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
Newcastle United are in talks with Burnley over signing James Trafford.
If James Trafford is to become a Newcastle United player then he must get one part of the Geordie dialect right.
Trafford watched on from his holiday destination as England under-21s retained their European Championship crown with a 3-2 victory over Germany in the final.
Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson put the Three Lions 2-0 before goals from Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel forced extra time. Jonathan Rowe’s strike in the 92nd then proved to be the winner.
In 2023, Trafford, alongside Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, was part of the Three Lions team that won the competition for the first time since 1986. Trafford is fondly remembered for saving a late penalty in the final to secure a 1-0 win.
This time, it was a new batch of youngsters with Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento and Geordie midfielder Elliot Anderson among the star performers.
Elliot Anderson sets Newcastle United transfer target James Trafford right
Reacting to the victory on Instagram, Anderson shared a photo of him holding the trophy and another of him wearing an England kit when he was still a junior with the caption “EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS”.
Showing his support in the comments, Newcastle transfer target Trafford made a rookie mistake. The 22-year-old replied “haway” which, for non-North East speakers reading this, is synonymous with Sunderland.
“Howay” is what is said on Tyneside and Whitley Bay-born Anderson wasted no time in correcting Trafford. And you could say ‘faced the wrath’ of Newcastle fans, many of whom were also keen to correct him in the comments.
James Trafford to Newcastle United latest
Newcastle are currently in talks with Burnley for Trafford, who would have joined last summer had Eddie Howe’s side not been forced to sign Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw Anderson move to Nottingham Forest.
Following an excellent campaign in the Championship, Trafford’s price tag has almost doubled. The Clarets want around £40million but the Magpies hope to reach a compromise.
The 22-year-old remains keen on joining Newcastle and is understood to have already agreed personal terms.
James Trafford opens up on failed 2024 Newcastle United
Cockermouth-born Trafford recently opened up on his disappointment at seeing the Newcastle move fail through last year.
Read More
“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.”
Continue Reading