Newcastle United-linked star agrees six-year deal as talks held over £40m transfer
Reports in Spain linked Newcastle United with a move for the 24-year-old Spaniard.
James Trafford remains Newcastle United’s top goalkeeper target.
Newcastle have again held talks with Burnley regarding a deal for Trafford after almost signing him 12 months ago. The 22-year-old agreed terms last June but United pulled out of a move when it became apparent Nottingham Forest would demand Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw Elliot Anderson move to the City Ground.
Trafford remained at Turf Moor and played a starring role, with his 29 clean sheets and just 16 goals conceded helping the Clarets earn promotion straight back to the Premier League. As a result, a transfer that would have cost around £20million last year is now closer to the £40m mark.
Newcastle United-linked Joan Garcia goalkeeper joins Barcelona
Negotiations are on hold, for now, and Newcastle have been linked with alternatives. The Magpies have been credited with an interest in Lille’s Lucas Chevalier and Joan Garcia, however the Spaniard is now officially one to forget about after this week he completed a move from Espanyol to city rivals Barcelona.
A Barcelona statement confirmed: “FC Barcelona activated the release clause of player Joan Garcia. The cost of the clause was 25 million euros plus CPI. This Friday, the player will sign a contract with the club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2031, in a private ceremony at FC Barcelona’s offices.”
Reports in Spain earlier this month claimed United were close to triggering Garcia’s £21m release clause, which sparked a social media frenzy among Newcastle supporters, but as reported by NewcastleWorld, those stories were wide of the mark. The club were aware of Garcia but at no stage were talks advanced.
James Trafford move could still happen
Newcastle have other transfer priorities, such as a forward and centre-back, but a move for Trafford should not be ruled out. The England goalkeeper is likely to remain keen on a move to St James’ Park after publicly admitting he wanted the move last summer.
“In the summer I think people knew I wanted to move,” Trafford told Fozcast. “The club that I was close to going, it was a good fit for me. It was brilliant for me and I really believed in it.
“I wanted to move, not just because I didn’t want to play in the Championship, I had no shame playing in the Championship. I have no ego to think I’m better than the Championship. You only prove something by performing and showing people. You can say whatever you want but unless you perform.
“It was just when an opportunity and a situation you think suits you can happen, you should take it and you should try and go for it, so I wanted to move. It was close but it didn’t end up happening.
“The manager was brilliant throughout pre-season. I wasn’t the best, I was moody because I’m young and I wanted to move, but in the moment I still worked extremely hard.
“I knew the longer it went on, the reality became I would be playing the first game of the season and I wanted to play. I told the manager I’m available if he wanted to select me. If not, I’ll sit on the bench, but I’m available. He played me the first game and that was it.”