'Soon' - Fabrizio Romano teases Newcastle United's first major summer signing — personal terms agreed
Newcastle United plan to close out a deal for James Trafford “soon”, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Newcastle United are pushing ahead with attempts to finalise a transfer for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford.
Trafford was set to sign for Newcastle last year but the deal was pulled when Nottingham Forest demanded Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw Elliot Anderson move to the City Ground.
The 22-year-old stayed at Turf Moor and played a starring role, keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals as the Clarets clinched automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Newcastle United pushing to seal James Trafford deal
A year on and Newcastle have returned to the table. Trafford’s price tag has increased from £20million to around £40m, but Eddie Howe’s side are hoping to close out a deal. And according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, they are hoping to do that “soon”.
“James Trafford and Newcastle, plan to accelerate and get deal done soon as revealed,” Romano wrote X.
Romano’s latest update comes a couple of days after he last, where he said: “Negotiations between Newcastle and Burnley for James Trafford are underway. Club to club talks continue as the deal can happen from July, so expected to accelerate from next week.”
Burnley sign long-term James Trafford
Burnley this week announced the signing of German goalkeeper Max Weiss from Bundesliga 2 outfit Kalsruher SC on a four-year contract.
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Clarets believe Weiss has the potential to become their long-term number one as Newcastle look to strike a deal with their current number one.
Commenting on his move to Turf Moor, Weiss said: “I’m really excited to be here. It’s an amazing Club with a big ambition and all the conversations I have had with people from here have been so good and very positive.
“The training ground facility looks amazing, the pitches are so nice and I can’t wait to get in for pre-season and meet the rest of the team.”
Newcastle United have already agreed personal terms with James Trafford
Trafford agreed personal terms over a move to St James’ Park last summer. Romano reported previously that verbal pact is “still valid”.
And that ties in with Trafford’s recent comments. The England international spoke openly about his want to join Eddie Howe’s side last year.
“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.”