Everton are reportedly keen on making a move for Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy this summer.
The 31-year-old’s contract at St James’ Park is set to expire next year, with no talks over an extension to that deal planned.
The Toffees are keen to strengthen their attack this summer and have already completed a permanent move for Tyrique George.
Sources have told Football Insider that Eddie Howe views Murphy as a key part of his squad and would like him to be there for the next season, but it is unclear how that attitude is viewed elsewhere at Newcastle.
The 2024-25 season saw the former Norwich City man enjoy arguably the best campaign of his career.
Murphy scored nine goals and registered 14 assists across all competitions, including 12 in the Premier League, but this season, he did not live up to the same standards.
Excl: Everton are keen on signing Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy.
The 31-year-old has just 12 months remaining on his #NUFC contract and could leave this summer.
Murphy signed for Newcastle NINE years ago and has been a brilliant player for the club.
He is one of a… pic.twitter.com/B3XxqfeMev— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 11, 2026
Jacob Murphy was compared to Kevin De Bruyne
The season just gone saw Murphy’s form fall off a cliff. The winger made 46 appearances across all competitions, but scored just four goals and provided only five assists.
The winger was expected to compete with new £55million arrival Anthony Elanga on the right of the attack, but neither player managed to claim the position and both struggled for form.
It was a tough season for Newcastle in general, but it was an especially dramatic fall from grace for Murphy given how highly he had been praised in the campaign before.
In April last year, after the winger had scored and assisted in a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace to make it six goal involvements in his last four games and five consecutive wins for Newcastle, Jamie Redknapp could not help but pile the praise on.
“His goal involvements when you look at that, look at those numbers with the players that he’s associated with there – [Mohamed] Salah, [Alexander] Isak, Jacob Murphy – if you’d have said that a few years ago, you’d have gone: ‘you are talking complete nonsense, there’s no way that’s possible,” he said.
“But it just shows you what you can do if you can dedicate yourself, work hard, you’re playing with good players every single game. It’s testament to Eddie, to Jason Tindall and all the staff there because they’ve done an incredible job with him, because I personally didn’t see it.
“But it just shows you what you can do if you get a little bit of belief.” Redknapp added: “He’s prime [Kevin] De Bruyne, he is.”
Can Everton reignite Murphy?
At the height of his impressive form in the 2024-25 season, Murphy among the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League.
The winger seemed to always make the right decision in the final third, and was devastating on the counter.
If Everton can reignite that type of form, they will be gaining a superb option for what will likely be a cheap fee.
Age will come into it, but Murphy’s 46 appearances this season clearly show that he is far from done yet.
