DARYL MURPHY was left out of the Ipswich squad this afternoon after edging closer to a move to Newcastle United, and Mick McCarthy has confirmed he is on his way.

The Magpies have made a surprise move for the experienced Championship striker and have agreed a fee for the Irishman.

He is undergoing a medical and on Tyneside to finalise the deal and is understood to be at St James' Park to watch the game with Brighton.

Murphy has scored 67 goals in 225 appearances during his three years with the Tractor Boys but is yet to find the net this season. That has prompted manager McCarthy to leave him out of the Ipswich team at Preston.

The 33-year-old, a former Sunderland forward, could become the tenth signing of the summer for Rafael Benitez. The Newcastle boss is also in the market for Palermo full-back Archaf Lazaar.

Murphy has 22 caps for the Republic of Ireland and could even travel to Tyneside this weekend to finalise a deal. Newcastle play Brighton at St James’ Park this afternoon.

McCarthy said: “It’s disappointing to lose Daryl but I can understand his reasons for wanting to go to Newcastle and we wish him well.

“Murph has been great for me over the past few years but it’s a good deal all round. I didn’t want to keep an unhappy player."