Exclusive: Wednesday, Forest & Stoke make moves to sign Newcastle star

Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Stoke City have joined Rangers in the race to sign Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy, Football Insider can reveal.

The Glasgow giants face competition from the Championship trio to land the wide forward, 25, they have targeted as a possible Ryan Kent replacement.

Industry sources have told Football Insider that Stoke, Wednesday and Forest have all told Newcastle of their interest in Murphy on a season-long loan deal.

Rangers have also made enquiries over Murphy, who has failed to establish himself at St James' Park and has entered the last 12 months of his contract.

Steven Gerrard may be forced to cash in on Kent as Leeds prepare to increase their offer after having an opening bid of £8.5m rising to £10m knocked back by the Light Blues.

It remains to be seen if the £27m signing of Rodrigo from Valencia, set to be finalised today, will see United end their pursuit of the Rangers attacker.

Newcastle are expected to loan out Murphy once again in the new season.

He shone at Hillsborough last season, with his 39 Championship appearances yielding nine goals and six assists.

Previous to that, the 2017 signing from Norwich City had a loan spell at West Brom in the second half of 2018-19.

Murphy has made only 41 senior appearances for the north-east giants since arriving from Norwich City for £10m three years ago.

Capped six times by England at Under-21 level, he is predominantly a right winger but can play in any of the attacking positions behind the main centre-forward.

In other Rangers news, we have exclusive reaction amid £14m Ryan Kent bid claim as Leeds United up the ante.