Hughes: Murphy's in control
Fulham manager Mark Hughes believes Danny Murphy will get a new contract if he keeps playing well.
Murphy has started every game since Mark Hughes took over as manager from Roy Hodgson. The player is in the final year of his contract at the club and will be looking for a new deal.
Talks between Murphy and the club are yet to start but Hughes feels it will be a mater of time before negotiations get under way. Murphy is an important player at the club and it would be pointless to
undervalue him.
Murphy is good enough to captain Fulham for another two or three seasons. It's important the club moves quickly in the near future or the player could leave the club and join a rival for nothing.
Quality player
Murphy is a quality player and one of the more experienced individuals at Fulham. He's played 100 times for Fulham and has scored 15 goals. His expertise will be integral to the plans the club has to develop
young players.
Murphy has taken to the captaincy role very easily. He has good leadership skills that will aid Fulham for as long as he's in the team. He is vocal and aggressive in every game and this is important when
he stands up for the rest of the side during physical contests.
Murphy is one of the best in the English game at taking set pieces. He is very accurate with corners and free kicks, which create more chances for Fulham to score. It's worth the club offering him a new
contract for these qualities alone.
Hughes said: "Danny is playing well and is in the team by rights. If he continues the same way there is no reason
why we shouldn't look to make sure that he stays as he's very influential both on the pitch and off it.
Danny is realistic and knows himself that he can sustain his level. From what I have seen, there is no reason why he can't."
Next summer
There is a big risk that the longer the club waits to start negotiations, the more alienated Murphy could become with Fulham. The player could walk away for free next summer
and join a club that Fulham regularly competes with.
The club needs to offer Murphy whatever he asks for and the player will sign a new contract. This would offer value on both sides because the club would retain their captain
and would get a good price if another side still wanted to come in and bid for him next summer.
Hughes added: "When I arrived here nine or 10 players had one year left on
their deals. It's a long big list and while we were are working through it, we haven't got quite through everything. Danny is on that list."
Betting advice
There is no reason for Murphy to go to another club. He is valued and respected at Fulham and represents a large part of what the club is trying to achieve.
Fulham is currently seventh in the Premier League table. The club stands a very good chance of breaking the top six to eight places by the end of the season. Back the side
to achieve this with ease.
Murphy is a great player to back to score in any game. He has enough quality to get into attacking positions against the better sides and he is top of the list to take
penalties and free kicks. However, back off from betting on him to be top scorer at the club because the strikers will always get more goals.
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