According to reports in The Irish Sun, Championship sides Aston Villa, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest are all interested in signing out-of-favour Newcastle United striker Daryl Murphy this summer.

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez has told the 34-year-old that he is free to leave St James’ Park this summer following the club’s promotion to the Premier League, according to The Irish Sun, despite the fact that he only joined the club from Ipswich Town a year ago.

The centre-forward endured a tough time on Tyneside after missing much of the Championship campaign with a calf injury, but he still scored some important goals for the Toon Army as they won the league title on the final day.

The likes of Villa, Sunderland and Forest are all said to be interested in a deal for the Republic of Ireland international, but perhaps new Leeds United boss Thomas Christiansen should be considering a move for the veteran striker too.

Here are three reasons the Yorkshire outfit should go all out to sign Murphy…

Goals

Chris Wood will undoubtedly be the first-choice option in attack for Leeds next season – assuming they stick with a system that includes just the one striker – and the club know that they can rely on him for goals following his hugely impressive campaign last time out.

However, Thomas Christiansen may also want to bring in a striker that can take some off the pressure off of the New Zealand international and score some goals of his own, and Murphy could bt the answer.

Injury limited the 34-year-old to just 19 Championship appearances for the Magpies last term but he still scored five goals, while he showed the quality he can have at this level by netting 27 league goals in the 2014/15 campaign with Ipswich Town.

Back-up option

As we mentioned previously Wood will be the first-choice option up top for Leeds next season but they will need a reliable back-up option for the New Zealand international if he picks up an injury or is rested during a busy period.

While the Yorkshire outfit look to be on the verge of signing Caleb Ekuban from Italian side Chievo, the striker has no English experience and therefore it could be a risky move.

That is where signing Murphy would be a good plan, with the 34-year-old appearing to be happy to play a substitute role at a big club – as he did with Newcastle last season.

Championship experience

If Leeds United are to be involved in the promotion race next season, they may need a few experienced heads in their camp to help them try and return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Murphy has spent the last seven seasons at this level and having secure promotion with Newcastle last term, he knows what it takes for a team to be involved at the right end of the Championship table and how to regularly score goals and be a threat at this level.

Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.