Jacob Murphy

Key strength: Pace and dribbling

Wide creator

At the heart of Newcastle United's ambitious project, 30-year-old Jacob Murphy continues to demonstrate why Eddie Howe values his presence in the squad. With the Magpies sitting 12th in the Premier League table and showing resurgent form through their last five matches (LWWWL), Murphy's contributions—2 goals and 3 assists across 31 appearances totaling 1,541 minutes—offer crucial depth and tactical flexibility. Operating primarily as a right winger but comfortable on either flank, the Englishman's €15 million valuation reflects both his Premier League reliability and his unique ability to stretch opposition defenses with raw pace and direct running. In a squad boasting elite talents like Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Elanga, Murphy provides the unsung width that creates space for others to flourish. Whether deployed from the start or called upon to unlock tired defenses late in matches, his vision and willingness to isolate full-backs remain consistent weapons. As Newcastle push to climb the table and challenge for European spots, Murphy's experience and versatility represent the squad depth that separates ambitious projects from genuine contenders.