Nottingham Forest striker Daryl Murphy is a player with a proven pedigree of scoring goals in the second tier of English football.
Not too many players have scored more Championship goals than the big Irishman during the last four seasons; although he is now coming to the end of his career.
The 35-year-old is attracting potential suitors this January, with former club Ipswich Town preparing a swoop for their former striker, according to TWTD.
The Reds aren’t blessed with many proven options up front and any potential sale will be thought through meticulously by boss Aitor Karanka.
According to the Nottingham Post, the Spaniard appeared to confirm that Murphy may still be in his plans.
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He said: “Today, right now, a striker is not a position we are thinking about.
“We have Lewis (Grabban), we have Daryl Murphy, we have Karim Ansarifard – we have three very good strikers available.”
Ahead of the January transfer window, Seat Pitch weighed up arguments for and against Murphy’s departure.
Experience could prove vital
Karanka has made no secret in the past of his desire to build a side around players with Championship experience.
Murphy fits that billing and although he has plenty of miles on the clock, his desire to do well this season has been evident when called upon.
Last season he appeared out of sorts after the midway point of the campaign and struggled for game time, but came back with a vengeance during the summer, determined not to see his Forest career end with a whimper.
Goalscoring performances against Bristol City and Newcastle United in the EFL Cup saw him lead the line with aplomb.
Forest aren’t blessed with lots of strikers right now; with none of the current crop fitting the stereotype of a target man like Murphy does.
First-team football all too rare
Given that the curtain is coming down on Murphy’s career, it is safe to presume that he will be desperate to finish it playing regular football.
The 35-year-old has peaked like a fine bottle of red wine given that the majority of his goals have come since he hit 30.
As much as Karanka might want to keep the veteran around the City Ground there could be a situation where the Forest boss has little choice but to let his striker go.
Since playing 72 minutes in the win at Middlesbrough back in October, Murphy has played just 20 minutes of football. He has struggled since then with a viral infection but the form of Lewis Grabban has seen him drop down the pecking order.
If former club Ipswich can offer him a swansong which involves playing regularly then it could be too good to turn down for the Forest man.