Why Glenn Murray return would be a massive boost for Brighton
According to claims from Football Insider (h/t Sussex Live), Brighton and Hove Albion veteran Glenn Murray could have his loan spell at Watford terminated when the transfer window reopens next month.
As per the report, the Seagulls are planning to reach an agreement with the Championship outfit and discussions have already been held to end the deal prematurely. It has also been reported that the two clubs have already agreed in principle to allow the 37-year-old to return to the Amex Stadium in January.
Murray joined Watford on loan in the summer with the hope of playing regular football week in, week out, having slipped down the pecking order under Graham Potter last season. However, things haven’t really worked out for the veteran in Hertfordshire, with the centre-forward mostly limited to substitute appearances at Vicarage Road.
The Maryport-born hitman’s only start for Watford in the Championship came against Sheffield Wednesday back in September. Murray has made just 6 appearances in all competitions for the Hornets so far, with Joao Pedro, Troy Deeney, Ismaila Sarr and Andre Gray all enjoying more game time.
Glenn Murray returning to Brighton in January should be a fair settlement for all parties involved. It is pretty clear that Hornets boss Vladimir Ivic doesn’t see the veteran as an integral part of his plans and it hardly makes any sense for the striker to see his career being wasted away by constantly warming the benches.
While things have gone downhill for Murray at Watford, it goes without saying that the 37-year-old could still be an important player for Brighton. The Seagulls are in danger of getting dragged into a relegation battle following a dismal start to the Premier League campaign.
With the club just a couple of points clear of the drop zone, Murray’s potential return in January would surely be a timely boost for Potter’s side. Neal Maupay has suffered a dip in form after a bright start to the season while the likes of Leandro Trossard and Aaron Connolly have also struggled for goals.
Danny Welbeck’s arrival was expected to boost Brighton’s firepower in front of goal but the England international is yet to hit top gear. The 29-year-old scored a wonderful goal in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa back in November but he clearly needs to do more to steer the club to safety this season.
Murray only started 7 times for the Seagulls in the Premier League last term but had notched 25 top-flight goals for the club during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. With almost 150 PL appearances and more than 550 club career appearances under his belt in English football, the 37-year-old would offer Potter some much-needed depth and variety in front of goal.
Verdict
Glenn Murray has previously shown that age is just a number when it comes to scoring goals on a regular basis in a league as competitive as the Premier League. Besides his plentiful experience and obvious instincts as a natural goalscorer, Murray would offer something different to the likes of Welbeck and Maupay as far as the Seagulls are concerned.
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Brighton clearly need to show significant improvement in the coming months if they are to retain their status as a top-flight club. Murray, who propelled them to promotion a few years back, could well be a key player as the south coast outfit bid to climb up the table.
