Jacob Murphy is on the verge of signing a new contract with Newcastle United that will extend his stay at St James' Park until the summer of 2028. The winger is close to agreeing improved terms on a 12-month extension, a move that follows the club's decision to reject multiple offers from Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window.

Talks have accelerated recently, with head coach Matthias Jaissle making it clear he wanted the 31-year-old to remain. Jaissle values the leadership Murphy provides in a young dressing room, a quality that has become more important as Newcastle handle an inconsistent start to the Premier League season. The club currently sit 11th in the standings with eight points from six games, a position highlighted by a 4-1 defeat at Coventry in their last outing. They will look to improve on that when they host Wolves in their next fixture.

Murphy’s role and value to the squad

Murphy’s proposed new deal rewards his contributions and protects the club's investment, ensuring they would receive a transfer fee if he were to leave in the future. His importance has been underlined in recent weeks, as he has started the last two Premier League matches following Anthony Elanga’s hamstring injury. His experience is seen as vital for a squad looking to climb from mid-table.

“The goal is missing. He is a young lad. We support him and we trust him, no doubt,” Jaissle said recently, discussing a different player's form but underscoring his supportive management style.

Squad context and other deals

The focus on Murphy’s future comes amid broader contract situations within the squad. Joe Willock’s deal expires next summer, and the midfielder rejected an approach from Besiktas during the last window. Willock has scored three times in seven appearances this season, including in the 2-1 win over Hull City. Meanwhile, the club’s summer signing of Matias Fernandez-Pardo was partly funded by the £3.5m loan fee received for Nick Woltemade, who is spending the season at Juventus.

Anthony Elanga, whose injury opened the door for Murphy, is now in the final stages of his rehabilitation and could rejoin training shortly. His return would be a boost for a forward line that has scored 10 goals but conceded 13 so far this term. Newcastle will be hoping to improve on a recent run of two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five league games as they aim to close a ten-point gap to leaders Manchester City.

The original report is at Daily Mail Sport