Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough has admitted that his club have made an ‘inquiry’ about Rangers winger Jamie Murphy, as quoted by Derbyshire Live.
Earlier in the week, it was reported by STV that the 30-year-old was on the verge of joining the EFL League One club on a loan deal until the end of the season.
However, while Clough confirmed that there is interest there, it appears a deal is much further away than was initially thought.
“We know Jamie from our time at Sheffield United,” he said, as quoted by Derbyshire Live. “He was absolutely brilliant for us there.”
“There has been an inquiry. We know his representative quite well, he looks after a couple of other lads at our place, so that’s how it’s come about.
“But he’s on quite a bit of money at Rangers, so I’m not sure whether there will be anything happening. You never know. It would be a difficult one.”
Verdict
When the news emerged in midweek that Murphy was potentially Burton-bound, there was a mixed reaction from fans with some considering it a good move and others gutted that the Scotland international hadn’t been able to break back into the first-team plans.
However, it seems wage demands could be a stumbling block here, with Clough far from certain that a deal will materialise.
Whether it’s Burton or elsewhere, it’s going to be beneficial for Murphy if he can go out and play games, though.
He’s made just two substitute appearances so far this season, his only competitive outings since sustaining a bad knee injury away at Kilmarnock in August 2018.
At this stage, it seems unlikely that he will come back into Steven Gerrard’s plans, regardless of what he does.
Yet, there’s a sense that if he goes out and plays week in, week out until the end of the season, he’ll have more of a chance than if he remained at Ibrox, and took part in the odd development game.
While Murphy will be taking his young family into consideration with any decision, on an individual level, surely going out and getting back on the pitch would also be his preference.
