Aston Villa are weighing up a move for available Newcastle striker Daryl Murphy this summer, according to the Irish Sun.
The news outlet have detailed on their website that Villa are now leading the queue for Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan and that Ireland international teammate Murphy is also on the club’s radar.
The 34-year-old played a part in helping the Magpies win the Championship last season, but on their promotion to the Premier League it is said that he has since been told he can leave.
Last season’s second tier title marked Murphy’s second in his 17-year professional career, as he also starred in the Sunderland team that lifted the trophy in the 2006-07 campaign.
The Black Cats are now also said to be keen on bringing him back to the club and both themselves and Nottingham Forest have asked about taking him on loan.
The 25-time capped Republic of Ireland international has proven his quality in the Championship during his career with 82 goals in 274 in total in England’s second tier.
He also has one-year remaining on his contract at Newcastle and if he does join Aston Villa he would add some more experience to the club alongside providing a different alternative upfront to strikers Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and Scott Hogan.