Leicester City’s Championship rivals came closer to signing Josh Murphy from Portsmouth

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Josh Murphy remains a Portsmouth player despite Leicester City’s interest, but EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal it was another club that came closest to signing him.

The recently relegated Foxes had put in an offer for the ex-Norwich youngster, but reports since have stated they never offered anything close to what Pompey would have considered selling him for.

Portsmouth fans were overjoyed when it was confirmed the 30-year-old was staying put at Fratton Park on deadline day, with the return of academy product Conor Chaplin on loan from Ipswich Town further boosting the mood on the blue side of Hampshire.

But it turns out it wasn’t Leicester who came the closest to signing former Oxford man Murphy.

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Exclusive: West Bromwich Albion came closest to signing Josh Murphy

Murphy joined from Oxford United on a permanent deal last summer, signing on a three-year deal with the option for an extension of a year. He played a key role in keeping Pompey up last term, scoring seven goals and grabbing 14 assists in 42 league appearances.

His form understandably attracted suitors, and EFL Analysis’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey can exclusively reveal Championship rivals West Brom made offers for him.

In fact, Bailey says they were closest to getting him, and were ahead of Leicester in terms of winning his signature on deadline day.

However, Portsmouth were pretty dug in and were not letting him out, with John Mousinho previously stating how important it was to keep his winger.

Leicester ended up making three signings on transfer deadline day and West Brom signed Samuel Iling-Junior on loan from Aston Villa, before also bagging Charlie Taylor on loan from Southampton.

Portsmouth now have an even more impressive attacking line

Pompey fan favourite Colby Bishop has been starting up top for Mousinho, while Murphy, Adrian Segecic and Florian Bianchin have been sitting in behind him.

Keeping Murphy will be vital for Portsmouth as they look to do more than stay in the Championship in their second season back.

The addition of Chaplin, a boyhood Pompey fan, behind Bishop will be incredible addition to their forward line.

The south coast club haven’t spent as much as their rivals this summer, but they could be onto something with those four players as options in attack.