Newcastle United have reignited their interest in Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. (Photo credit: Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United have reignited their interest in Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. (Photo credit: Getty Images) | Getty Images
Talks between Burnley and Newcastle United for James Trafford are expected to ‘accelerate’ next week.
The Cumbrian agreed personal terms ahead of a move last summer but the deal was pulled when the Magpies agreed to sign Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw Elliot Anderson join Nottingham Forest.
A year on and Trafford remains Eddie Howe’s top goalkeeper target. The 22-year-old was statistically the country’s best goalkeeper last season with his 29 clean sheets and just 16 goals conceded helping the Clarets earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Newcastle United re-open James Trafford talks
As a result, Trafford’s price tag has almost doubled with Scott Parker’s side understood to value him at £40million. According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Burnley and Newcastle are underway and are expected to accelerate next week when July starts.
“Negotiations between Newcastle and Burnley for James Trafford are underway,” Romano wrote on X. “Club to club talks continue as the deal can happen from July, so expected to accelerate from next week.”
As revealed by NewcastleWorld earlier this month, Trafford will be brought in to rival Nick Pope for the number one jersey, rather than replace the 33-year-old immediately.
Pope has been the No.1 since joining from Burnley in 2022 and in that time has helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League twice and win the Carabao Cup.
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“I do think he’s one of the best shot stoppers I’ve had the privilege to work with,” Howe said about Pope last season. He has this ability to get his positioning right and he has long levers, big arms and legs that he manages to get touches on balls some other goalkeepers wouldn’t because of his size and stature.
“He is also very good from crosses and we are going to need that coming into this game, set plays and all the things.”
James Trafford wants Newcastle United move
Trafford openly admitted he wanted to join Newcastle last summer and that feeling remains as the England international aspires to fulfil his ambition of competing at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League.
“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.”
Burnley on the verge of signing new goalkeeper
Burnley have already lined up Trafford’s long-term replacement with 21-year-old Max Weiss set to join from German second-tier club Karlsruher SC.
As reported by Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, a £4.2m transfer has been agreed and Weiss underwent his Burnley medical on Monday ahead of penning a four-year contract.
“Max Weiß to Burnley is considered a done deal,” Plettenberg wrote on X. “A full agreement has been reached between Burnley and Karlsruhe. Transfer fee: €5 million all-in. Medical scheduled for Monday. Contract until 2029.
“Burnley believe the talented 21-year-old goalkeeper has the potential to become their long-term number one.”
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