Jacob Murphy will only join West Brom on loan if Newcastle sign a new winger before the transfer window cut-off, according to a reliable journalist.
Chronicle correspondent Lee Ryder delivered an update on the potential deal after Football Insider broke the news earlier on Thursday that the 23-year-old is closing in on a move to the Hawthorns.
Ryder explained Rafael Benitez will only sanction the exit of Murphy if he is successful in securing winger targets of his own.
Jacob Murphy only likely to head out on loan if #nufc get other winger targets. #wba
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) January 24, 2019
OPINION
West Brom fans should hold off on having replica shirts printed with Murphy’s name. It appears a deal is in the works, but it will not be signed off until Benitez has a replacement signed and sealed. Given Newcastle’s difficulties in getting any signing over the line, Baggies shouldn’t hold their breath. With Mike Ashley infamously resistant to either transfer window gambles or giving his manager what he wants, despite as much public pressure from the Spaniard as he can give without breaking the terms of his contract, there remains a state of stasis at St James’ Park even though a deal is all but done for Jordan Lukaku to join on loan from Lazio for the rest of the season. Lukaku is a left-back rather than an attacking player, like his brother Romelu, and he is not a replacement for Murphy. For West Brom to get their own Ashley Barnes replacement, the parties involved must first remove the spanner in the works.