One of Newcastle United’s long-term transfer targets is set to visit St James’ Park on Tuesday.
Tuesday night’s first leg clash at St James’ Park will be the second time the sides have met on Tyneside this season. Back in November, Newcastle secured a 2-1 win over Man City thanks to a Harvey Barnes brace.
Trafford was an unused substitute in that game but is in line to start in goal against The Magpies having started all four of City’s domestic cup matches so far this season.
The 23-year-old joined Manchester City from Burnley in the summer after a lengthy transfer saga in which he was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle. Back in 2024, Trafford had agreed personal terms to join Newcastle but the deal was scuppered as a transfer fee couldn’t be agreed with Burnley.
A year on, history repeated itself, only this time Man City swooped in and hijacked the deal to bring their former academy player back to the club.
But it’s been a complicated return for Trafford so far, as he started the first three Premier League games of the season for Pep Guardiola’s side, but hasn’t featured in the league since. Gianluigi Donnarumma joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain and has been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League and Champions League.
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Has the James Trafford ship sailed for NUFC?
Newcastle viewed Trafford as a long-term solution in the goalkeeper department with Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos leaving the club over the summer and Nick Pope having just 18 months left on his current deal.
The Magpies are still yet to fully address the goalkeeper situation and Trafford’s lack of first-team action and frustration at City has linked him with a quick exit from the club.
But when asked if the Trafford ‘ship has sailed’ for Newcastle, Howe was keen to praise his former transfer target.
“I think he's a very, very good goalkeeper,” Howe admitted. “I'm a big fan of his, and I think Manchester City are really in a great position with the two goalkeepers that they have.
“They've probably got more than that, but the two ones that have been involved this season, fantastic goalkeepers.
“No, I don't look at it that way. I wish him all the best in his career, and if he plays tomorrow, we'll look forward to going up against him.”
Newcastle United goalkeeper decision
After missing out on Trafford in the summer, Newcastle moved to sign Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton with a £20million option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
Like Trafford for City, Ramsdale has started all of Newcastle’s domestic cup matches so far this season.
But now the side are at the business end of the competition, will Howe keep Saturday’s penalty shootout hero in goal or will he revert to Pope?
“We'll see,” Howe said. “We'll make a decision on that. I'm very happy with both goalkeepers. I thought it was a really nice moment for Aaron on Saturday. He had quite a bit to do in the game. I thought he did well.
“Big penalty saves, big moment. I'm sure that will endear him to everyone connected with the club. I think he enjoys those big battles, so I was delighted for him personally, and I think Nick's come back into the team and done really well.
“I think we've got real strength and depth, and two great professionals holding such a key position.”
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