Newcastle United are making a return to the big time, and Eddie Howe is eyeing a £30m talent he can rely on in Europe next season.
Following a successful Premier League campaign, the Magpies are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to the Champions League.
Howe’s side will be eager to bring in a few key names to boost their chances in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
One problem area has been the goalkeeper position – but it looks like the Geordies may have found their man.
Newcastle targeting James Trafford
Manchester City academy graduate James Trafford has excelled between the sticks in the Championship for Burnley and looks to have earned himself a potential move to a European side for the upcoming season, with Newcastle interested.
Manager Scott Parker hailed Trafford as a ‘world-class keeper’ [BBC] at the end of the season, and rumours of a potential departure from Turf Moor this summer were to be expected.
Trafford, who joined the Clarets for an initial £15m in 2023, was a major reason behind their incredible defensive record, conceding 14 goals and keeping 29 clean sheets as Burnley earned automatic promotion from the Championship.
The 22-year-old is also an exceptional penalty-kick saver, having denied a stoppage-time penalty at 1-0 up in England’s 2023 European U21 Championship final victory, as well as a further two in one match against Sunderland at the start of 2025.
Trafford also became the only goalkeeper in the tournament’s history not to concede a goal throughout all nine matches.
What does this mean for Nick Pope?
10-time England senior international Nick Pope has been Newcastle’s number one since he himself arrived from Burnley back in 2022, but the potential acquisition of Trafford will bring some competition.
According to Sky Sports News, Eddie Howe intends to keep Pope at the club and hopes the two goalkeepers will battle it out for the starting spot.
It remains to be seen who will ultimately claim the position as their own, but Pope has previously been linked with a move to Leeds United by the Daily Mail and could decide a move away from Tyneside is best for his career.