Newcastle United look close to agreeing a deal for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, but they must be wary of Manchester City’s buy-back clause.
With a big summer on the cards, the 22-year-old looks set to be the Magpies’ second signing of the summer, having already completed a deal to sign Antonio Cordero on a free transfer from Malaga.
Newcastle United fans are anticipating a summer with lots of spending, so James Trafford will likely be one of several players to come through the doors on Tyneside.
It has been reported that Newcastle have at least £150m to spend this summer, and with Trafford’s price tag believed to be around £30m, they have a lot of money left over to complete other deals.
While Trafford to Newcastle looks more likely now, Howe must still be wary of Manchester City, who have a buy-back clause on him from when he played there before joining Burnley.
With talks advancing between Newcastle and Trafford, the goalkeeper has already shared his opinion on the buy-back clause Man City have.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
James Trafford not worried about Man City buy-back clause amid Newcastle United talks
Man City’s buy-back clause for Trafford is believed to be around £40m, so they would have to pay a significantly larger sum if they wanted to prise him from Newcastle’s hands this summer.
A deal looks unlikely, especially after Man City signed Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea, but it is still a possibility.
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Trafford appeared on a recent episode of Ben Foster’s Fozcast, where the buy-back clause was brought up. When asked about it, Trafford said: “I think that’s where I’ve always been aiming for, the top of the Prem. Everyone wants to go there, everyone wants to play there.
“To get there you have to play games, improve and then get to the level where you do go back to wherever I end up whenever, I’m ready for it and I’m the best equipped for it and ready to perform.”
The news that Trafford could be joining may not be welcomed by Nick Pope, whose place in the starting XI is now in jeopardy. However, Howe wants Pope and Trafford to fight for the number one spot at Newcastle before Trafford presumably takes over down the line.
James Trafford will reunite with an old teammate if he joins Newcastle United
Trafford joining Newcastle will be welcomed by many on Tyneside. A young goalkeeper who is coming off the back of a record-breaking year in the Championship is getting a big move to the Magpies and will likely play Champions League football on occasion.
While Newcastle fans seem happy that Trafford is joining, nobody may be happier than Anthony Gordon, who will be reuniting with his old teammate from their England youth days.
Gordon played in the same team as Trafford during the 2023 under-21s European Championship – a tournament they won. Trafford did not concede a single goal throughout the tournament and Gordon picked up the Player of the Tournament award for his contributions.
In the final against Spain, Trafford saved a penalty in the final minutes of the game to keep his run of shutouts alive and win England the tournament.