Chelsea are known as the Pensioners but Newcastle United have no intention of usurping their nickname and heading down the path of golden oldies.
One of the major decisions taken in-house this summer is to reduce the age of a squad stacked with senior citizens. If that should see them land long term target James Trafford from Burnley then United could boast the future first line defence of the England national side for years to come.
Tino Livramento (22) and Lewis Hall (20) both became full internationals last season and at 22 years of age Trafford is currently in Thomas Tuchel's squad though he is still waiting for his first cap. Having nicked Nick Pope's place in the England party it would be ironic if he should do the same at club level.
Inevitably Trafford, born just across country in Carlisle, has represented England at every age level from Under 17s to Under 21s where he helped us win the European title in 2023. United are always ready to show great persistence and patience in the transfer market but eking Trafford out of Burnley may take some doing given that he enjoyed a record-breaking campaign to help his club earn promotion from the Championship by keeping 19 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals including 12 consecutive shut-outs between December and March.
[It will certainly cost the Mags more than the £20m they were looking at 12 months ago](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-traffords-new-price-tag-31795392) when personal terms were agreed with Trafford. Pope, who helped win the Toon's first domestic trophy in 70 years, earned 10 England caps before missing out on Euro 2024 through injury.
At 33 (admittedly not old for a keeper) it obviously would help reduce the overall age of United's squad if he left and newly promoted Leeds United are keeping an eye on the situation re Trafford. Ironically another Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow was called up at the back end of last season to help them over the line.
Ideally Eddie Howe would like to keep Pope to compete with Trafford given that United are in the Champions League next season which I thoroughly understand. In an ideal world he would stay and United would sell either Martin Dubravka or Odysseas Vlachodimos or both though with them having the safeguard of a lucrative contract that might prove to be more difficult than at first anticipated. Maybe loan deals?
Howe rates Pope one of the best shot stoppers he has ever worked with. The difference is that Trafford, a midfield player as a kid, is much better with his feet, an important part of the modern game for a goalkeeper.
England, with Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn in their squad, begin their two-match programme on Saturday against Andorra in a World Cup qualifier scheduled for neutral territory Barcelona before a friendly with Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday night.
While Hall is recovering from a long term injury, Livramento is out of the full England squad only because Tuchel wants him to help the Under 21s who are currently in a training camp at St. George's Park in preparation for the upcoming European Under 21 Championships. The tournament itself kicks off in Slovakia on June 12 when the Three Lions will be defending the crown they won with Trafford and Gordon in their ranks a couple of years back.
The recognition of United players by England is a throw back to the days of the Entertainers who produced a flurry of Three Lions call ups. When Livramento, Hall and Gordon began together last campaign it was the first time United had provided a trio of starters since Alan Shearer, David Batty, and Rob Lee against Georgia in 1997. Before that it was Lee, Peter Beardsley and Steve Howey v Nigeria 1994.
I was blessed during the period of KK's Entertainers when I was covering England matches to have loads of local interest such was the recognition of what Geordies possessed. Barry Venison and Les Ferdinand were also picked by their country while John Beresford made a squad in Turkey without getting on and Steve Watson was selected in an England party only to be forced to pull out through injury.
Contrary to the belief of some however Warren Barton and Andy Cole were never capped during their time with Newcastle \_ Barton's three appearances were with Wimbledon and Cole's 15 with Man U.
Howe's Newcastle have the same England foundations Keegan produced \_ before the current crop we had Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Pope.
Letting the mind run wild could United conceivably have FIVE in an England squad, if not team, next season \_ Livramento, Hall, Burn, Gordon and Trafford? You never know!
Despite their young international full-backs United are particularly old in defensive positions. Trippier is 34, both Burn and Fabian Schar 33, and Jamaal Lascelles 32 later this year while all five of United's current goalkeeping options \_ Pope, Dubravka, Vlachodimos, Ruddy and Gillespie \_ are well into their 30s which means Trafford would be a decade younger than any of his rivals. Of course United are likely to, indeed must, clear out their glove compartment in particular this summer. Wilson at 33 will likely leave as part of an overall age reduction. It is a summer of speculation and anticipation.