Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has given his verdict on a reported Magpies transfer target.
The 19-times capped England Under-21 international has been a long-term transfer target for Newcastle and they have already made two unsuccessful attempts to lure the former Burnley stopper to Tyneside in recent seasons. However, it was last summer when the Magpies appeared to be on the brink of getting their man after they reportedly agreed a fee of around £28m with the Clarets - but that deal was scuppered when City stepped in to persuade Trafford to return to the club where his career began.
Despite expecting to become Pep Guardiola’s number one keeper in the aftermath of Ederson’s departure, Trafford has only made 13 appearances in all competitions throughout the season as the City boss has favoured another of his summer signings, Gianluigi Donnarumma, for large parts of the campaign.
Trafford has been linked with a move to Newcastle in recent weeks and months and Shearer has called on Newcastle to try and make it third-time lucky by making another move for the 23-year-old as doubt remains over the future of current keepers Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope.
Speaking about Trafford on The Rest is Football podcast, the Magpies icon said: "He’s coming to Newcastle, lads. It wouldn’t surprise me. It was almost done and dusted last summer and then, for whatever reason, City came back in with a buy-back clause. I guess he thought that he was going there as a No.1 [goalkeeper], and clearly other things took over with Donnarumma [moving to City]. I would like to think that Newcastle would be back in for him. He will definitely have options, but if he was that close to Newcastle last summer, I would see no reason for him to not be that close again.”
What has Eddie Howe said about James Trafford?
Eddie Howe looks on from the touchlineplaceholder image
Eddie Howe looks on from the touchline | AFP via Getty Images
The Magpies got a first-hand view of the City goalkeeper when he featured in both legs of this season’s Carabao Cup semi-final and was also between the sticks as Pep Guardiola’s men ended Newcastle’s FA Cup run with a 3-1 win at St James Park earlier this month. Speaking ahead of the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, United manager Eddie Howe discussed the England international and described himself as ‘a big fan’.
He said: “I think he's a very, very good goalkeeper. 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 that have been involved this season are 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.”
Trafford verbally agreed personal terms with Newcastle in the summer of 2024 only for the deal to fall through with Burnley and once again prove unsuccessful the following year.
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