James Trafford of Burnley looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley FC and Sunderland AFC at Turf Moor on January 17, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)placeholder image
James Trafford of Burnley looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley FC and Sunderland AFC at Turf Moor on January 17, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is among Newcastle United’s top transfer targets.
According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Burnley have agreed a £4.2million deal to sign Max Weiss from Bundesliga 2 side Karlsruher SC.
The 21-year-old completed his medical on Tuesday and has signed a four-year contract with a view to becoming the Clarets’ long-term number one.
“Max #Weiß has successfully completed his medical at Burnley,” Plettenberg wrote on X. “Announcement coming soon. Transfer fee: €5 million all-in. Contract until 2029.
“Burnley were impressed by his fitness after his holiday. The talented 21 y/o goalkeeper has the potential to become their long-term number one. Exclusive news, set to be confirmed soon.”
Newcastle United re-open talks with Burnley over James Trafford
Could Weiss’ arrival potentially pave the way for Trafford’s exit?
Trafford was set to move to join Newcastle last summer but a deal was pulled when Nottingham Forest demanded Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw academy graduate Elliot Anderson move to the City Ground.
The 22-year-old stayed with the Clarets and played a starring role in their promotion back to the Premier League, keeping a record 29 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals.
Trafford remains the Magpies’ top goalkeeper target and according to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between them and Burnley are underway and a move could “accelerate” next week. The Clarets are understood to value the England man around £40million but could be negotiated down.
Romano wrote on X: “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.”
James Trafford still keen on Newcastle United move
Trafford is understood to still be keen on a move to Tyneside after publicly admitting last month he wanted the move last summer.
“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.
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“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.
“The manager was brilliant throughout pre-season. I wasn’t the best, I was moody because I’m young and I wanted to move, but in the moment I still worked extremely hard.
“I knew the longer it went on, the reality became I would be playing the first game of the season and I wanted to play. I told the manager I’m available if he wanted to select me. If not, I’ll sit on the bench, but I’m available. He played me the first game and that was it.”
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