Newcastle United have been installed runaway favourites to sign Norwich forward Jacob Murphy this summer, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
Sky Bet have priced the Premier League new boys at 8/11 to land the dazzling wide man, 22, before the transfer window shuts at the start of September.
Newcastle are well clear of the next clubs in the betting race, with Southampton (8/1), Swansea (14/1), West Brom and Crystal Palace (both 16/1) considered outsiders at this stage.
The shift in price comes after Newcastle were 3/1 at the end of last last month to sign Murphy, who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park for some time.
Recent reports have stated that Newcastle are working on a deal to prise Murphy from Norwich and started the bidding at £8million, although the asking price is said to have shot up to £16million.
Murphy has not yet played in the Premier League as he was on loan at Coventry in 2015-16 but he has made rapid progress in recent seasons in the lower leagues.
He scored eight goals and supplied eight assists from 38 Championship matches last season, and also made a major impact for England Under-21s in the European Championships this summer.
He featured in every single match as he took his impressive domestic form into the international age-group arena.
Newcastle appear to have been convinced that Murphy has the calibre to make a big impression in the Premier League next season.