An ‘outstanding’ winger has been urged to join Derby County after winning promotion.
Derby County are eager to bolster their attack after returning to the Championship this season.
They have already released Dwight Gayle and Martyn Waghorn, while Tyreece John-Jules returned to Arsenal at the end of his loan.
The Rams have also looked rather light out wide too, while both Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tom Barkhuizen are into their 30s.
With Paul Warne looking to improve the squad in preparation for the Championship, he is reportedly looking to another player who has recently been promoted.
It was reported earlier this week that Derby are among a number of clubs chasing Oxford United winger Josh Murphy, who is out of contract this summer.
The 29-year-old netted a brace in the play-off final this month, taking his tally to ten goals and six assists in all competitions.
Derby are joined by the likes of West Brom and QPR in their pursuit, with both clubs likely to provide difficult competition for the Rams.
Jacob Murphy urged to join Derby County
However, pundit Carlton Palmer has now claimed that Pride Park could be the ‘best fit’ for Murphy.
Speaking to Football League World, the former midfielder said: “”He’s had an outstanding season for Oxford United.
“He’s out of contract, he’s 29 years old, he’s very experienced, and he’s available on a free.
“This puts him in a very, very good position in terms of getting the best contract he can, but also from Josh’s point of view, he’s got to look at where he’s going to get plenty of game time.
“Obviously at 29, he wants to get the best deal, this is a very important contract for him, but he’s also got to think about where he’s loved and where he can play his best football, and he’s been outstanding at Oxford.
“Sometimes it’s better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know, but it’s a short career, we all know too well that when you’re finishing at 38 or 39, you can’t just live off nostalgia, so he has to get the best deal for himself.
“For me personally, Oxford have come up, but you look at the sides that are interested in Derby, Portsmouth, QPR and West Brom, they’re all going to have money to be at the top end of the table.
“Oxford are newly-promoted, and it’s going to be difficult for them next season..
“Would he be guaranteed game time at the likes of West Brom and QPR every week? Doubt it.
“I believe he would get the chance of playing week-in and week-out at Derby and Portsmouth.
“So it depends, I think Derby, if he doesn’t decide to stay at Oxford, would be the best fit for him under Paul Warne.
“But I’m sure Oxford will pull out all the stops to try and keep him at the football club.”
The free agent would be a risk-free move
Derby County surely have a much better chance of staying in the Championship next season given their previous experience, while they will surely have of a pull to potential targets than Oxford.
Whether Murphy is willing to leave the club that has helped him revive his career, that is another question.
And while the winger hasn’t really proved himself in the Championship, it seems like a relatively risk-free move for the Rams, who can bring him in on a free transfer.
Derby desperately need some squad depth and if Murphy could add a few goals to their season, then it would already be worth it.
However, Warne definitely should not just be looking back down to League One to do his business.
The Rams will find much more success from bringing in players further up the pyramid, following on the from the success of players like Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Harry Wilson.
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