Interest is growing in Watford transfer target Jacob Murphy ahead of the summer transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Football Insider, who claimed that a recruitment source has revealed that Leeds United and Burnley have now joined the race for the Newcastle United winger, who has been a target for Watford, Southampton and Rangers for a number of weeks.

It is also reported that Newcastle would be willing to part with the £25,000-per-week winger for a fee of around £3m this summer, on the basis that Steve Bruce does not activate a year-long extension to the player's contract.

Giaretta will be livid

Considering just how long it has been reported that Watford have been interested in Murphy, with Football Insider suggesting in mid-April that the Hornets were keen on a move for the 26-year-old, the news of further interest in the former Norwich winger is likely to have left the club's sporting director Cristiano Giaretta fuming.

With Watford planning for a season back in the top flight of English football this summer, one would assume that the transfer targets Giaretta was aiming to bring to Vicarage Road would have been set out well in advance, one of whom appeared to be Murphy if reports are to be believed.

However, the Newcastle winger's improvement in form since taking up a wing-back role seems to have reduced the Hornets' chances of landing the versatile £3.15m-rated man. That could be due to Steve Bruce wanting to keep Murphy on at Newcastle for a further year, or that bigger clubs are now taking an interest in the former England under-21 international.

As such, there is not much more for Watford fans, or indeed Giaretta, to do now other than to wait and see what Newcastle decide to do with Murphy at the end of the season. At the moment, things do not look overly positive regarding the chances of a switch to Vicarage Road.

In other news: Big Watford transfer news emerges on "outstanding" £3k-p/w gem, fans will be gutted - opinion