SAFC striker Daryl Murphy set for move to Celtic

Jun 14 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

DARYL Murphy will lead Sunderland’s summer clear-out by completing a move to Celtic before the end of the week.

The Glasgow giants tabled a bid at the end of last week and, although the two clubs are still £250,000 apart in their valuations of the Republic of Ireland striker, all parties are keen on the deal and a swift resolution is expected.

Celtic’s first bid was believed to be around the £1.2million mark, and while Sunderland want more they will be happy to get a player who has been told he is not part of Steve Bruce’s plans for next season off the books.

A source close to the Republic of Ireland striker told The Journal the switch is “very, very close” and indicated Murphy will take a pay cut to help push through a move he believes will boost his chances of international recognition.

Ipswich and Cardiff have both registered their interest – while Glasgow Rangers were recommended the player last month – but Murphy’s desire to move to Parkhead has put the Scottish Premier League side firmly in the driving seat.

Murphy is one of several players who have been told to find a new club.

The speed of his transfer is a welcome fillip for boss Bruce, who worries the wage demands of some of his squad players will put off interested parties.

The Republic of Ireland striker had wanted to leave last summer but failed to agree terms with Ipswich – and subsequently played over the Christmas fixture list as Sunderland battled a major injury crisis.

However, the Wearsiders are building a squad capable of finishing in the top eight of the Premier League – and Murphy is not up to that standard.

Bruce knows he needs players to leave to balance the books at the Stadium of Light and, although Murphy was not one of the squad’s big earners, the manager was never sold on him as a Premier League player.

He struggled to score goals in the top division, often playing out of position.

The Black Cats will make a tidy profit on the 27-year-old.

Signed by Mick McCarthy from Irish side Waterford United for a nominal fee, he will move on for seven figures.

Sunderland may have problems off-loading their other unwanted players quite so easily.

One report claimed the Black Cats would look to offer centre-half Anton Ferdinand back to old club West Ham in an effort to entice Matthew Upson to the Stadium of Light – but Bruce has other centre-backs in sights as well.

The England defender has been made available at Upton Park and Bruce worked with him for nearly four years during his time as Birmingham City manager.

Meanwhile, Simon Mignolet’s club St-Truiden have posted a statement on their website reassuring fans there is nothing untoward about the delay in the goalkeeper’s move to Sunderland.

Although the goalkeeper left Wearside last week without signing the five-year deal that the Black Cats have offered him, his club say he has taken a medical and verbally agreed the contract.

He left England to complete a university exam last week but will return over the next seven days to complete the formalities of the £1.2million transfer.