West Brom may have landed John Swift already this summer but they've missed out on another target, with Newcastle United's official website confirming that Alex Murphy has joined the Toon.
The Baggies have already gotten to work trying to sort their team out and ensure that they don't have as unsuccessful of a Championship campaign as they did last time out.
Steve Bruce will want to meld the team to his liking and ensure that they begin to push on up the table, rather than settle for mediocrity again next year. The former player certainly has his own list of targets and potential signings that he will want his side to try and grab this transfer window.
One name that he did want to try and bring to the Hawthorns is Alex Murphy, who has looked a decent talent for the future and might not necessarily be available for the Baggies first-team right now but would likely have ended up being used in the squad somewhere down the line if he signed.
The defender has looked like he has plenty of talent and has the potential to develop into a good player as part of a backline - but other clubs have noticed the potential of the 17-year-old too, meaning that the club have ultimately missed out on the signing of the youngster.
With Newcastle also keeping tabs on the player and launching a move for the player, it is the Toon who have ended up securing the future of the player as confirmed by their official website. It means that West Brom have had to miss out on one of their targets - and will now have to look elsewhere for more high potential options for their squad.
The Verdict
Alex Murphy has been on the radar of a few clubs during this offseason and it has ultimately been Newcastle who have landed a deal for the defender.
West Brom will have bigger and better targets than the 17-year-old this summer but with Steve Bruce trying to ensure that both the present and future of the club is sustainable in terms of their talent and playing options, it will be a blow to lose out on the youngster. The signs are that he could be a very good option down the line, so they'll be gutted to miss out.
Newcastle though have the chance to give him potential Premier League football in the future and the Baggies merely cannot compete with that. They could also likely put a bigger and better financial offer on the table for Murphy compared to West Brom, with the side having newfound riches under their new owners.
West Brom will be hoping that they haven't missed out on a player that ends up being a very good defensive option down the line. Now though, they will look to other high potential targets and targets that can aid their club in the here and now rather than in the future.