Rangers are continuing the “fire sale” at Ibrox with another fringe player set to head out for pastures new with the surprise revelation that Jamie Murphy is on the radar of Dundee United.
The story was broken by STV’s Raman Bhardwaj on Twitter and it is no surprise – following his successful loan spell at Burton Albion and previous success down south – that he is also attracting interest from England.
Rangers winger Jamie Murphy attracting interest from clubs in Scotland and England, Dundee United being one of them. 12 months left on Ibrox deal. Along with Ross McCrorie and Greg Docherty, would expect Murphy to leave Rangers for a fresh challenge.
— Raman Bhardwaj (@ramanbhardwajTV) August 17, 2020
Murphy had looked to be an excellent acquisition when he first signed on loan for Rangers in January 2018 and an outstanding 6-month spell saw the winger arrive on a permanent deal from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer, however, disaster struck in the first league game of Gerrard’s tenure when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Kilmarnock’s infamous artificial pitch.
He rejected the opportunity to go out on loan for the first-half of last season, deciding instead to fight for a place in the first-team, but his opportunities were limited as Gerrard’s men performed well domestically and in Europe.
This season, he could feel hard done by, Jordan Jones and Brandon Barker have both seen time on the pitch and in the match day squad despite never showing the sort of form that Murphy did prior to his injury and when faced with a packed defence – like Livingston’s at the weekend – a player with less pace and more guile could’ve been the answer.
Should Murphy have had more of a chance to impress in 2020?
Yes
No
His inability to make then bench when nine substitutes are allowed paints a damning picture of how far his stock has fallen under Gerrard and the highs of becoming a Scotland international after impressing on loan will seem a lifetime away for a man who has always had the famous Light Blues at heart.
Murphy could be the third bluenose in a week to leave the club with Ross McCrorie heading to Aberdeen and Greg Docherty on his way to Hull City, it will be a sore one for fans to take who always want “one of their own” to do well, but as long as they are replace with upgrades and players who can impact he staring XI then their loss will soon be forgotten.