Cats duo could be reunited with Roy

Jul 9 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND skipper Dean Whitehead and striker Daryl Murphy could be in line for a shock reunion with Roy Keane – after the Black Cats accepted offers for the pair from Ipswich Town.

Keane told Irish journalists on Tuesday night that he had agreed fees for two players and was expecting to talk to them later in the week

The Journal understands they were for captain Whitehead and Murphy with the combined fee understood to be in the region of £5million.

Although the Ipswich boss was cryptic in his post-match comments after the first leg of the Tractor Boys’ Ireland tour, he did confirm that one of his targets was Irish and he was hopeful of sealing a deal for the duo.

Murphy’s name was linked in reports yesterday along with defender Paul McShane, but The Journal understands that the latter is not particularly keen on working under the Black Cats’ former boss again.

A transfer would be of much more interest to Murphy, who has found himself frozen out at Sunderland since Keane departing and is in desperate need of a new club to kick-start his career.

Although he was a Mick McCarthy signing, Keane rewarded him with a contract extension a year ago and relied him at the start of last season while Kenwyne Jones was recovering from his knee injury.

Keane’s interest in Whitehead is more surprising given the pair’s sometimes fractious relationship at Sunderland – and the midfielder is not certain to welcome a reunion.

Although Sunderland’s skipper

is known to be on the look-out for a new challenge and favours a move South, few would have imagined that would lead to East Anglia.

The Black Cats have received offers from Wigan and Hull City in the not-too-distant past for Whitehead and the midfielder would probably favour a move to another Premier League club.

It is also unclear whether Ipswich could match the player’s wage demands, which are understood to amount to £25,000-a-week.