Eddie Howe wants Newcastle United to keep Jacob Murphy

Eddie Howe is keen to keep hold of experienced attacker Jacob Murphy, who is about to enter the final year of his deal.

Eddie Howe is not interested in letting Jacob Murphy leave the club, with Football Insider reporting the Newcastle United boss wants to keep hold of the experienced winger. The attacker is set to enter the final year of his deal at St. James’ Park, with the club manager eager to explore possible solutions to retain the winger.

Eddie Howe is bracing for a tough summer window as Newcastle United could undergo plenty of changes, both necessary and unwanted. Without Champions League football, the club could find it tough to retain some of their star names amid concerns over the futures of players like Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Tino Livramento.

Gordon is attracting plenty of big interest, with Bayern Munich the latest to enter the race for the winger. Likewise, Manchester United are among the big admirers of Tonali, while Livramento is also expecting offers in the summer from top-six clubs.

Amid all the speculation surrounding those top names, Howe wants to keep hold of Jacob Murphy — another one of those players who could potentially depart. With Newcastle United expecting changes to their frontline, the manager feels the need to retain the winger, who was signed in a £12.5 million deal from Norwich City back in 2017.

The fact that Murphy will enter the final year of his deal in the summer makes for a tricky decision for Newcastle United. Ideally, a club of this stature will not want to lose the player on a free the year after, but Howe could push to keep hold of him in a bid to maintain some level of continuity in the team, even if some prominent names depart.

How has Murphy performed this season?

Last season, Murphy registered 20 goals and assists for Newcastle United, which represented his best campaign in a Toon shirt. However, he has suffered a massive dip in form this term, with only four goal contributions to show for his efforts. Moreover, the arrival of Anthony Elanga last summer has been the reason for his restricted minutes — and yet, the experienced star has still made 40 appearances across all competitions.

Keeping hold of Murphy might be seen as a viable idea by Howe, but the club must work out a formula to ensure they retain his value. Hence, a new contract could be on the cards, although a decision to stay may ultimately fall on Murphy himself, as he might seek a different opportunity if his role diminishes further within this squad.