' FULHAM SET TO SPLASH CASH ON CITY TARGET '

HITC Sport

Wednesday June 10th

HITC Sport understands that Fulham are ready to compete with Cardiff City and Hull City for Ipswich Town's top Championship marksman Daryl Murphy.

Fulham are set to launch a bid for Daryl Murphy as they hope to win the race for the Ipswich Town star, HITC understands from sources close to the club.

The Irish international striker finished last season as top-scorer in the Championship, as he played a starring role in Town’s promotion push – which ended in the play-offs.

The 32-year-old has one-year left on his current deal at Portman Road, but Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy knows he faces a huge task to hang on to one of his prized assets.

Murphy has been linked with recently relegated Hull City and second tier promotion hopefuls Cardiff City – but Fulham, who still have parachute money coming their way this summer – are ready to put cash on the table.

Murphy, who scored 27 goals last term, is currently with the Republic of Ireland squad and earlier this week admitted to being flattered by the interest being shown in him.

Can Ipswich keep Murphy out of the clutches of a rival?

I wonder what they will bid? 11 mill

I wonder what they will bid? 11 mill

Looks like Slade needs to act fast if he wants his number one target.

I wonder what they will bid? 11 mill

Looks like Slade needs to act fast if he wants his number one target.

We will see how much Slade really wants him.

Hope they get him too

I wonder what they will bid? 11 mill

Looks like Slade needs to act fast if he wants his number one target.

We will see how much Slade really wants him.

We'll see how far Tan will back Slade in his pursuit of his number one signing.

And we'll see if Slade can persuade a player who is being chased by a number of clubs that playing under him at Cardiff is the best option for the player.

I have my doubts on both.

I think if fulham are in for him we can write this signing off. It will be a bidding war and tan wont get involved in one of them and spend silly money imo, fulham will offer 5 6 7 even 8 million for him and for that money their welcome to him, we can get someone else very good for 5 million or under

He'll end up somewhere like Fulham rather than with us. We're going to need to offically move on some strikers before we buy I would imagine, I mean we've got Doyle and Mason who you can't see going anywhere then you've got Jones, LeFondre and Guerra who look to have played their last games for us. So buying Murphy seems more like paper talk for us.

Is a striker also the priority for us anyway. I'd be looking at the midfield and strenghtening there first. We need a proper defensice midfielder to help the defense out. Looks like Magna is staying, so along with Turner and Connelly we've got three sold central defenders, then Morrison if he can stop making stupid mistakes. Gunnerson did a job last season but he's not the answer. You only have to look at the role someone like Matic does for Chelsea which allows the forwards to play.

That would be where I'd like to see our money go. 5 in midfield with Kennedy at the head of the 5 supporting Doyle.