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In what looks like being a busy summer for Ireland internationals, Glenn Whelan and Daryl Murphy are next in line to leave their respective clubs.
The former is further along in his move, with the Telegraph reporting that an agreement between Stoke City and Aston Villa that could rise as high as £1.5m has been truck to take the 33-year-old to Villa Park in time for the new Championship season.
Aston Villa set to complete signing of Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan for deal which could reach £1.5m. Medical today #avfc #scfc
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 19, 2017
Indeed, so far along is the deal that Whelan has already been booked in for a medical. The midfielder had already been the subject of one bid from Villa earlier in the summer, one that was rejected out of hand by Stoke, but manager Steve Bruce was undeterred and looks to have finally got his man.
Murphy, meanwhile, looks set to complete a £2m move to Nottingham Forest. According to the Times’ George Caulkin, Forest look to have seen off competition from other clubs in England’s second tier to land the 34-year-old striker.
Understand that Nottingham Forest have bid in excess of £2m for Newcastle’s Ireland striker Daryl Murphy.
— George Caulkin (@CaulkinTheTimes) July 19, 2017
Newcastle have yet to officially accept the offer – but given manager Rafa Benitez’s declaration earlier in the week that Murphy was free to leave St. James’ Park, then it seems highly unlikely that the Magpies would hold out for much more to agree to the transfer.
All going well, Whelan’s transfer could be announced within the next 24-48 hours, while Murphy’s (assuming Newcastle accept the bid) would probably be early next week.
Another Irish international who could be on the move soon is goalkeeper Darren Randolph. West Ham’s signing of Joe Hart as pushed Randolph has pushed Randolph even further down the pecking order at the London Stadium so a transfer this summer looks almost certain.
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On this week’s episode of the Mixer Irish Football Podcast we discussed the latest rounds of domestic and European fixtures, and were joined on the line by Galway United captain Colm Horgan.
