Newcastle United agreed personal terms with top target wanted in £40m summer deal
For a third consecutive summer transfer window, Newcastle United are linked with James Trafford.
Newcastle United reportedly plan to revisit their interest in James Trafford this summer.
The Magpies have come close to signing the 23-year-old in each of the last two summer transfer windows before losing out to Manchester City.
A fee of £27million was agreed with Burnley but the Citizens hijacked the move after exercising their matching rights option. Trafford came through their academy before being sold to the Turf Moor club in 2023.
Twelve months earlier, Newcastle verbally agreed personal terms with Trafford but had to walk away from a deal after agreeing to sign Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR-swindle with Nottingham Forest that saw Elliot Anderson head in the opposite direction.
Newcastle United set to revisit James Trafford interest
Trafford’s return to the Etihad Stadium was set to put an end to United’s interest, however a change in circumstances has led to the England international eyeing an exit.
The Cumbrian-born goalkeeper believed he was being brought in as the club’s No.1 following Ederson’s departure, however Gianluigi Donnarumma later arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, which has limited Trafford to just 14 appearances.
NewcastleWorld previously reported that Trafford’s wages were a major stumbling block but the Daily Mail claims that Eddie Howe’s side will revisit their interest with an asking price of £35m to £40m.
The Magpies, however, will face competition. Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have been linked with Trafford in recent weeks.
James Trafford addresses his Manchester City future
Earlier this year, Trafford publicly expressed his disappointment at his game time and hinted that he was open to leaving this summer.
Speaking in February, Trafford: “I didn’t expect the situation [with Donnarumma] to happen but it happened, so just get on with it. So it’s happened so I work very hard every day and see what happens, give it my best shot.
“It is what it is. It’s football, you’ve got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. This is just another experience to add to my career and it has been a good learning experience.
“Who knows, it’s football. Let’s take it a day at a time and try and work as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens. I’ve obviously got a contract, so don’t know what happens next season. I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
Newcastle United eye goalkeeper
The Magpies will target a new goalkeeper this summer and as reported by NewcastleWorld last month are among the clubs interested in Brighton & Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen.
Nick Pope has just turned 34 and has found himself out of the team for the last eight matches following his error in the 3-2 home defeat to Everton.
His replacement, Aaron Ramsdale, is on loan from Southampton, though United are unlikely, at this stage, to trigger his £20m buy option.