Spurs are reportedly interested in making a move for Norwich winger Jacob Murphy during the January transfer window, but will face competition from Liverpool for the youngster’s signature.Â
The Daily Mirror report that both clubs are interested in the winger, but they claim that Liverpool are set to offer to loan Murphy back to Norwich for the rest of the season in an attempt to beat Spurs to their man.
Norwich are struggling in the Championship, losing eight of their last eleven league games after a bright start to the season. The Canaries sit in 12th in the second tier of English football, and with promotion looking unlikely for Alex Neil’s side this season, Murphy might jump at the chance of a move to a Premier League club.
The Mirror also state that Mauricio Pochettino has been impressed with the 21-year-old’s performances for Norwich this season, and has sent scouts to watch him in the Championship ahead of a potential January move.
Both clubs seem to be neck-and-neck in the race to secure the services of Jacob Murphy from Norwich, but reports suggest that Liverpool are confident that they will beat Tottenham to his signature by loaning him back to Carrow Road for the rest of the season, and this alone will be enough to beat Spurs to this deal.
Murphy has been in good form for Norwich this term, bagging five goals and five assists already at this midway stage of the season. The winger has also created 21 chances this season, and made 16 key passes in 20 league appearances under Alex Neil.
Do Spurs need Jacob Murphy, and is a move to White Hart Lane likely?
In terms of wingers when playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Spurs have the injured Erik Lamela, Hueng-min Son, Christian Eriksen, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Moussa Sissoko. That makes five players fighting for two spots, and that is when Mauricio Pochettino decides to play in 4-2-3-1.
N’Koudou has lacked game time, and so has Moussa Sissoko, so you feel that they have much more to offer for Spurs both this season and in future seasons. So, in short, no Spurs do not NEED Jacob Murphy. This would make you think that this would rule Spurs out of the running after Pochettino said he only wants players that will slot straight into the team and make a huge difference in the January transfer window.
However, Mauricio Pochettino likes to work with young players, he likes to watch them grow into better players, and with the price likely to be fairly low, he might be tempted to give Daniel Levy a nudge and bid for Murphy in this January transfer window.
