Championship duo Reading and Preston are believed to be battling it out to sign up and coming Norwich youngster Jacob Murphy on loan, reports TeamTalk.
The winger turned striker impressed many in the Midlands after being one of Coventry’s star players in their eventually unsuccessful push for promotion from League 1 last season.
The 21-year-old has been out on loan for the last two-and-a-half years, with spells at Swindon, Southend, Blackpool, Scunthorpe and Colchester before moving to Coventry last term.
During his time at the Ricoh Arena, Murphy scored 10 goals and notched 10 assists for the Sky Blues as they finished eighth in League One. His impressive performances during Coventry’s unbeaten run in November also helped him become the League One Player of the Month.
Preston have history with taking young Norwich talent and developing them into better players, having taken Declan Rudd on loan in 2013.
While Reading are believed to already be doing business with the Norfolk club, with midfielder Aaron Tshibola rumoured to be heading in the over direction. Whether a possible loan deal for Murphy to join the Royals is a kind of bargaining chip in the Tshibola deal is unknown.
