Newcastle United are believed to be in pole position to sign an England player, which could be a blow to Aston Villa's plans.
Newcastle make summer plans amid St. James' exit rumours
The summer at St James' Park is shaping up to be one of the most complex in recent memory.
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European qualification — the target at the start of the season — now appears unlikely. Newcastle sit 12th in the Premier League with seven games left and a gap of seven points to the top five, and while the mathematics have not entirely closed the door, the mood around the club is one of damage limitation rather than ambition.
The 7-2 hammering in Barcelona and the 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland before the international break left a sour taste that the break itself has done little to wash away.
newcastle applaud their fans at the nou camp
Off the pitch, the noise is constant.
Sandro Tonali's future remains a live story despite the club's insistence that no gentleman's agreement exists for him to leave if European football is not secured.
The question of Tino Livramento hangs in the air, with reports suggesting that top clubs are circling the right-back and a departure is possible.
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Anthony Gordon continues to attract admiring glances from elsewhere as well.
And yet amidst the concern over outgoings, Newcastle are simultaneously planning for arrivals — and one of the most pressing areas of need is in goal.
James Trafford 'increasingly likely' to join Newcastle over Aston Villa
Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke now claims that Newcastle have emerged as the leading club in the race to sign Man City and England goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, edging out Aston Villa and other clubs, who are also monitoring the situation.
Manchester City's James Trafford looks dejected after the match
The 23-year-old has long been an Eddie Howe target — last summer Newcastle came close to landing him from Burnley before City moved quickly to bring him back to the Etihad, leaving the Magpies frustrated.
However, O'Rourke now reports that Trafford is 'increasingly likely' to finally join Newcastle.
It has not worked out as Trafford would have hoped at the Etihad.
The signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma effectively removed him as the club's first choice almost immediately, limiting him to 13 appearances this season.
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He has not hidden his feelings — publicly expressing his desire for more regular football and privately coming to terms with what has been a surprisingly difficult period.
A strong showing as City lifted the Carabao Cup against Arsenal last weekend served as a reminder of his quality, but it has done little to resolve his long-term situation under Pep Guardiola.
This week brought a significant personal landmark when he made his senior England debut against Uruguay, putting himself firmly in Thomas Tuchel's thinking ahead of the World Cup squad announcement.
That call-up will only intensify the interest of clubs keen to give him the regular minutes that his career demands.
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The report also notes that Lewis Hall, another England international, wants to remain at Newcastle despite interest from his former club Chelsea.
The 21-year-old left-back has been one of the standout performers of the season on Tyneside and is focused on continuing his development there. The prospect of him partnering Trafford in a refreshed defensive unit next season is one that appeals to the club's planning.
With so many threads to untangle before August, the summer will define the direction of this Newcastle project for years to come.
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The Magpies have struck.