Newcastle hope to succeed where they failed a year ago by signing theBurnleyand England goalkeeper James Trafford for a fee that could approach £40m.
The 22-year-old has long been admired by Eddie Howe, with the Cumbrian’s excellent footwork a key reason why Newcastle’s manager was disappointed a £20m move for Trafford foundered last summer.
With Trafford keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding only 16 goals as Burnley won promotion from the Championship, his price tag has doubled. Yet although the Lancashire side are likely to drive a hard bargain as negotiations open this week the impending arrival of the Karlsruher goalkeeper Max Weiss at Turf Moor for about £4.5m suggests that Scott Parker is preparing for life without Trafford.
Much may depend on whether Newcastle – who have goalkeeping alternatives in mind – can negotiate a compromise over the price.
At 6ft 6in Trafford’s commanding presence is combined with shot-stopping excellence and footwork that demonstrates his origins as a highly regarded outfield schoolboy player.
Trafford, who grew up on a farm in a village outside the small town of Cockermouth, has admitted he was “disappointed” whenlast summer’s mooted transfercollapsed.
Trafford’s likely arrival places the future of Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper, Nick Pope, in doubt. Although Howe would ideally like Trafford and Pope to compete for a starting spot, the latter is much admired by promoted Leeds. Moreover Howe’s goalkeeping department is already overstocked and he possesses competition for Trafford in Slovakia’s Martin Dubravka.
Newcastle also remain keen on bolstering their attack and are longstanding admirers of Brighton’s João Pedro but face competition from Chelsea. João Pedro is thought to favour a move to London.
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Newcastle are understood to be open to selling either Sean Longstaff – a longstanding Everton target who has also been monitored by Leeds – or his fellow midfielder Joe Willock, they will resist interest in Alexander Isak from, among other clubs, Liverpool.
They are expected to offer Isak a lucrative contract extension this summer. While it is far from certain that he will agree to it, the striker’s deal runs until 2028 and St James’ Park executives are determined not to sell their prize asset this year.