Newcastle United are reportedly set to sign Galway United defender Alex Murphy.
According to RTE Sport, the Magpies have beaten off competition from a number of other clubs for the 17-year-old.
Murphy only made his first-team debut last June against Athlone Town as a 16-year-old. He actually only signed his first professional contract in January. He has since become a regular in John Caulfield’s side, mainly at left-back.
The youngster joined United from Corrib Celtic, but is now set to embark on a new adventure. He’ll come to England when he turns 18 this summer.
Murphy had been on the radars of the likes of Brighton, Torino and Celtic.
But it appears Eddie Howe has managed to win the race for the starlet.
Further evidence of Murphy’s potential is that he was handed his first standby call-up for the Republic of Ireland’s Under-21s squad back in October.
News of Newcastle being set to land Murphy shows the club are ready to press ahead with improving the club’s academy.
Amanda Staveley has already outlined plans to overhaul things, and improve the infrastructure and players within the club’s youth ranks.
Newcastle taking steps to improve the academy with Alex Murphy move
It is good to see Newcastle already taking steps to improve the quality within the academy.
It is going to take a long time to build it up.
But hopefully eventually, the club will be in a position whereby all youth groups are packed full of talent and competing for titles.
And ultimately, it’s about providing the right platform for youngsters to come into the first-team.
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