Alex Murphy considering Newcastle exit - Report

Newcastle United are sorely lacking backup options at full-back next season as things stand.

There's still a long way to go in the summer transfer window, and a full-back is on the priority list for Ross Wilson, but we've been saying for a while now that Newcastle ideally needs two new full-back recruits this summer.

Both Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are lacking backup unless Eddie Howe is ready to give more opportunities to Alex Murphy and Leo Shahar.

While both have spent a fair bit of time on the bench for Howe, only Murphy has really been given any minutes, but the youngster wants more regular game time.

Alex Murphy wants more football next season

The Irish left-back has made eight first-team appearances for Eddie Howe and has looked fairly solid. 

In our view, the 22-year-old could be seen as a good option for Howe next season, but The Chronicle believes that the young star could seek a move away this summer.

They believe that Murphy will want more minutes and may seek a loan or even a permanent switch to get more first-team football.

We can't let Murphy go without a replacement

If Newcastle fails to bring in adequate cover at left-back and they let Murphy leave, that would be a disaster, so Murphy may be told to wait for now.

While we'd obviously like to see someone with more first-team experience brought in to cover Hall, we would also love to see Murphy make his breakthrough from the academy into the first team as a regular player.

The same goes for Leo Shahar, although we believe that he's a bit further back in his development than Murphy.

If Murphy does leave this summer, we hope it's just a loan. We don't want to give up on the lad just yet.