Report: Nottingham Forest battling Derby for £11m man Hughton once called ‘excellent’

Chris Hughton is hoping to reunite with £11 million Cardiff City winger Josh Murphy at Nottingham Forest although, according to the BBC, he is also a target for Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday.

Seven years ago this month, the Wembley-born wideman made his first senior start in Norwich City’s FA Cup clash with Fulham.

And manager Hughton was full of praise for a teenager who, alongside twin brother Jacob, was starting to make a name for himself at Carrow Road.

“They’re both exciting players,” Hughton told talkSPORT in January 2014. “They’re very offensive and attacking players that create things.

“Josh has been a little bit more involved than Jacob and he’s benefitted from the experience he’s had with the first-team this season and coming on as a sub on a few occasions.

“It was his first start today and I thought he was excellent.”

• Report: Derby and Sheffield Wednesday want £2.5m man Bielsa called 'a serious player'
• 'Nothing in that': Boss suggests £11m man isn't joining Nottingham Forest or Derby

Seven years on, manager and player may be reunited at the home of the two-time European champions.

The BBC reports that Nottingham Forest are rivalling Sheffield Wednesday and neighbours Derby for the now-25-year-old Murphy, who has fallen out of favour at Cardiff.

The £11 million man hasn’t started a single Championship game since November and may be allowed to leave on a temporary basis.

Murphy produced five goals and three assists in the second-tier last term as Cardiff reached the play-offs. His searing pace makes him a real threat at this level and a reunion with Hughton could be exactly what the former England U20 star needs.

A move to Sheffield Wednesday, however, would see Josh follow in Jacob’s footsteps. The younger of the Murphy siblings shone during a loan spell at Hillsborough in 2019/20.

In other news, Report: Tottenham winger Gareth Bale bemused by Jose Mourinho comments