Newcastle United transfer latest as Man City star's future uncertain
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Newcastle United are monitoring James Trafford's situation at Manchester City after the goalkeeper indicated he will want to move on in the summer - with Eddie Howe still keen to bring him to St James' Park.
Trafford was handed the City No 1 jersey when he rejected Newcastle to return to his boyhood club in a £27million move from Burnley last summer.
It was a setback for Howe and the recruitment team on Tyneside. The Magpies have long chased Trafford and had a £16million deal in place to sign him in the summer of 2024 only for them to put it on hold due to PSR issues. They then went back in for the shot-stopper in the summer, only for negotiations to falter as City swooped in to take advantage of a buyback clause they had in place with Burnley.
With the long-serving Ederson heading for the exit, it appeared Pep Guardiola had earmarked the 23-year-old for the goalkeeping role long-term. But after starting the first three Premier League games of the season, the situation changed when City opportunistically brought in Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St Germain on deadline day.
The Italian has been preferred since, with Trafford largely having to settle for domestic cup appearances. However, the England hopeful admits he isn't happy with the situation and will look at his options at the end of the season.
Trafford said: “I didn’t expect the situation to happen but it happened. I just get on with it. It is what it is, it’s football. You’ve got to keep grafting every day and when the games come, play as hard as you can.”
England under-21 international Trafford, who came through the City youth ranks before joining Burnley in 2023, is less than 12 months into a five-year contract. Yet given the current circumstances, he is unsure what the future holds.
“Let’s take it a day at a time and try and work as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens,” said Trafford, who featured in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round win over Salford.
“I’ve obviously got a contract (but) I don’t know what happens next season. I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
Newcastle's transfer stance remains that they will look to make a permanent goalkeeper signing in the summer. Nick Pope remains the No 1 at St James' Park, despite Aaron Ramsdale playing on Saturday against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Pope is expected to return to the starting XI on Wednesday against Qarabag.
Ramsale joined on loan from Southampton in the summer for an initial £4million fee. However, there is no clause that will trigger a permanent switch and Howe will weigh up at the end of the season whether to sign him permanently, with the Saints believed to want around £16m.
Ramsdale has impressed with the ball at his feet in the games he's played, giving Newcastle an extra outlet and more control in their build-up play, but hasn't always convinced between the posts at times.
Pope will be 34 in April and will have just one year left on his contract, while Odysseas Vlachodimos is expected to seal a permanent move away from St James' Park in the summer having impressed on loan at Sevilla.
It means Newcastle will look to sign a new goalkeeper before the start of next season. Trafford remains high on Howe's wishlist with the Toon boss admitting 'he’s a very good goalkeeper' to reporters. Newcastle have shown with their pursuit of the likes of Anthony Elanga, Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro in the past that they aren't afraid to go back in for a player.
Trafford impressed the Newcastle hierarchy in the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final recently, pulling off a number of brilliant saves as well as remaining calm and collected in possession. The Cumbrian insists he will keep his head down and try to impress in the cup competitions for City, though he knows the situation is damaging to his hopes of making England’s squad for the World Cup.
“Obviously everyone knows what’s going on with me,” he said. “I’ve just got to, whenever I play, play as well as I can.”
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