Newcastle United sealed their place in next season’s Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League, widening the scope of Eddie Howe’s plans.
As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, star striker Alexander Isak is now expected to remain at St. James’ Park next year, while recent reports have suggested the Magpies are now ready to make an audacious double swoop for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and FA Cup winner Marc Guehi, titan at Crystal Palace.
However, the work won’t stop there. Newcastle, indeed, are looking to strengthen between the sticks.
Newcastle ready bid for rising star
As per The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle are preparing to make their first formal offer to Burnley for shot-stopper James Trafford, who is valued at over £20m.
A flurry of interest is expected in the 22-year-old keeper, with Chelsea and Manchester United both keen on the Championship superstar.
However, Newcastle are looking to get a deal done nice and swiftly, with Nick Pope mooted to be in line for an exit.
Why Newcastle want James Trafford
Pope has been a stalwart servant for Newcastle, joining from Burnley in a £10m deal back in June 2022. Now, the Toon can repeat the trick by bringing Trafford into the mix.
However, it’s not Pope who the England U21 international would be emulating in making the move to Tyneside; rather, Trafford could become Howe’s next version of Anthony Gordon.
Before we look at exactly why, let’s take a quick look at Trafford’s meteoric rise.
Leaving Manchester City’s youth academy for Turf Moor in 2023 after several successful loan spells in League One, some felt the £19m transfer fee was a little excessive.
He’s since been an instrumental part of Burnley’s success, the focal point of a watertight defence which kept 30 clean sheets across the Championship season.
Trafford only missed one match, and enjoyed 29 shutouts, saving two penalties and incredibly conceding just 16 goals.
Truly, he’s been crucial in helping the Clarets secure promotion back to the Premier League, also receiving praise from his manager Scott Parker, for being a “world-class goalkeeper.”
With a cheeky personality and an acrobatic athleticism to back up his swagger, Trafford will no doubt have his sights set on becoming a Three Lions mainstay, emulating Gordon.
England international Gordon, indeed, made the right move in leaving Everton for £45m in January 2023, crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year in his first full season after notching 28 goal involvements from 48 matches.
The duo played together for the U21s, with Gordon even remarking, “I’d trust him to save anything” after one wondrous display against Spain in the final of the U21 European Championship, en route to a 1-0 victory.
Like Gordon, Trafford also came through the academy of one of the Premier League’s goliaths, though he failed to make a senior appearance at Manchester City.
Although saying that, the 24-year-old Gordon was actually a member of Liverpool’s youth fold before leaving aged 11 and finding a new home over on the blue half of Merseyside.
While Newcastle’s star winger didn’t set the world alight at Goodison Park, scoring just seven times across 78 matches as a Toffee, he showcased a hunger and skill that could be shaped and developed under Howe’s wing, and indeed has.
Now, Trafford must take the leap and follow suit.
