Reading too much into it? Moyes pictured in cosy chat with Everton target Murphy
Should Evertonians read anything into it? Probably not much — but that hasn’t stopped plenty from trying. Me too.
Footage doing the rounds shows David Moyes sharing a warm, familiar-looking exchange with Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy as players left the pitch after Everton’s recent friendly win over the Magpies. Given Murphy’s been quietly linked with a move to Merseyside all summer, the timing was always going to raise eyebrows.
The interest itself isn’t new. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has reported Everton have identified Murphy as a target to strengthen their options out wide, while Football Insider claims the Toffees are “waiting to pounce” as new Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle decides whether the winger fits his plans.
Murphy, for his part, is said to want to stay and fight for his place at St James’ Park, but he’s heading into the final year of his contract — the kind of situation that tends to concentrate minds as a window edges toward its close.
Jacob Murphy to Everton 👀#NUFC #efc pic.twitter.com/I3VFuGON8w
— NUFC Gallowgate 🏆 (@NUFCgallowgate) August 13, 2026
None of that means a chat on the touchline is anything more than two familiar faces from the same corner of the football world exchanging pleasantries. Managers talk to opposition players all the time, and Moyes is hardly short of contacts across the Premier League.
But context does a lot of heavy lifting in moments like this, and Murphy being a known target makes the clip easy to over-think.
Worth keeping an eye on all the same — not because of what was said, but because of who was saying it.
NOTE: This is the type of content you get when there is little actual news to report 🙂
Gary is editor for ReadEverton. He has many years experience of sports writing behind him after deciding (belatedly) that the world of accountancy wasn't for him. His work has been featured on (among many others) BBC Sport and The Metro. He has written on many sports, but considers himself an expert in football and F1. When not writing and editing he likes to go to the cinema and sip a lovely cold pint of Guinness (not always at the same time).
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