The profile of Norwich City star Jacob Murphy has hit new heights after scoring a crucial goal to seal England’s place in the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals.
For the second match in four days the winger came on as a half-time substitute and made a big impact, calmly finishing from close range after good play by Demarai Gray in the 69th minute.
Murphy’s important strike for the England U21s, as he won his sixth cap, added to Gray’s opener in the first half and was capped by a Lewis Baker penalty late on as hosts Poland were beaten 3-0.
It sealed top spot in Group A for Aidy Boothroyd’s side and followed on from national newspaper the Mirror linking the Canaries’ 22-year-old with four top-flight clubs – and slapping a price tag of £7million on his head.
West Brom, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Swansea are all said to be keen to sign City’s academy product after his bright performances in Poland with the Young Lions.
That follows the Norfolk-raised attacker’s breakthrough Championship season, scoring 10 goals in 41 senior appearances, which means Norwich supporters will not have been too surprised to see Murphy being touted with Premier League clubs.
It is that £7m price tag which got people talking, with many surprised to see such a low value attached to one of the Canaries’ star academy products.
We put that price tag to an online poll and 39pc of over 3,000 votes felt Murphy should only be sold for upwards of £15m, particularly with four years of his contract remaining.
That is backed up when compared to the huge £30m deal which has taken the wide man’s U21 goalkeeper colleague Jordan Pickford to Everton recently, who had a similarly lengthy contract at Sunderland, although around £18m of that is reportedly up front.
Of the other voters, 27pc said they would not want Murphy sold this summer, 26pc would settle for between £10m and £15m and the remaining 8pc would accept between £7m to £10m.
With money already tight at Carrow Road as City deal with the stark financial realities of another season outside the top flight, sporting director Stuart Webber has already admitted every player has their price.
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