Newcastle were in the market to sign James Trafford this summer
James Trafford of Manchester City looks dejected
James Trafford of Manchester City looks dejected
(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
If things had turned out differently in the summer, James Trafford could have been Newcastle United's number one goalkeeper.
Trafford was immense last season as Burnley won promotion from the Championship and Newcastle had tracked his progress in each of the last two seasons.
The Magpies agreed a £27million deal to sign the under-21 European Championship winner in the summer but Man City hijacked the deal.
City sold Trafford to Burnley in 2023 but inserted a clause where they were given the right to match any bid from another club for Trafford and they opted to do so.
As such, the 22-year-old rejoined City instead of Newcastle and started each of their opening three Premier League matches this term.
However, Pep Guardiola's side have since signed Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG and the 26-year-old was thrown straight into the starting line-up in Sunday's 3-0 win over Manchester United.
It left Trafford watching on from the bench and facing up to a season on the sidelines and Shay Given, who played for both Newcastle and Man City during his career, has said he would be 'raging' if he was in Trafford's situation.
"I do feel for Trafford because I know he was heavily linked with Newcastle," Given told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"My understanding is, well he has the number one jersey on his back but promise isn't the right word in football and guarantee isn't the right word in football but I think James Trafford is a brilliant goalkeeper.
"In the year of a World Cup I think Pep has given him the full sales pitch. 'You're going to come to Manchester City, the number one jersey is yours, you are going to be playing regularly, playing Champions League football and if you play your cards right you might actually play for England in the World Cup next summer'.
"Fast forward two weeks and the big man Donnarumma comes from Italy and he is parked up for the season. I don't know where his mindset is at.
"I seen him walking around the pitch (after the Manchester derby) and I am just thinking a penny for his thoughts. I know he is young but if it was me I would be raging. Raging I have had that conversation and two weeks later I am on the bench.
"What does Trafford do now? He is off the back of a phenomenal season. What happens now?"
Newcastle signed Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale instead but he has not been able to usurp Nick Pope from the starting line-up.
Pope has made an excellent start to the season, keeping three clean sheets in United's opening four matches.