Newcastle United are now making another move to sign James Trafford from Burnley.
The Magpies pushed hard for the England U21 international last summer, eager to line up the heir to Nick Pope’s throne ahead of schedule, but an agreement could not be reached.
TBR Football understand Newcastle United bid for Trafford after choosing him over Aaron Ramsdale, but walked away as Burnley demanded £30m.
The 22-year-old then remarkably kept 29 clean sheets and conceded just 16 goals in 45 Championship appearances last season to fire Burnley back into the Premier League.
Sky Sports now claim that Newcastle United are back in talks to sign James Trafford – and the glovesman has already shared his views on a move to Tyneside after what happened last summer.
James Trafford was very keen to join Newcastle United as Eddie Howe given insight
Just a matter of days ago, the Burnley No.1 spoke indirectly to Ben Foster on the Fozcast podcast about the situation involving Newcastle United last summer, suggesting that he had his head firmly turned by the Magpies.
Trafford – without directly naming Newcastle United – admitted: “In the summer I think people knew I wanted to move. The club that I was close to going to (Newcastle United) 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…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.”
Trafford – who Manchester United have enquired about – is now, of course, back in the Premier League, although we doubt his views on a move to Newcastle United have changed, given the fact Howe has since guided the Magpies back into the UEFA Champions League.
What Newcastle United initially have planned for James Trafford
If talks with Burnley prove to be more productive this summer, Trafford will not immediately displace Pope by the sounds of it.
BREAKING: Newcastle are in talks to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford 🚨
Burnley are understood to value Trafford at £30m with Newcastle hoping to have him and Nick Pope competing for the No.1 spot next season ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/S8acGuz7wi
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 10, 2025
Sky Sports state that Newcastle United hope to have the Carlisle-born glovesman competing against Pope for the No.1 shirt next season, so it seems like Howe will give both an even chance of becoming the main man in between the sticks.