Newcastle are looking to bolster a number of positions ahead of next season, especially with the Champions League on the horizon. They have reportedly already agreed on a deal to bring in Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, with just the official announcement pending. Now the club are shifting their focus to other areas on the pitch that need reinforcements.
The goalkeeping role is one of them. In the last campaign, Nick Pope was the primary keeper of the Magpies, appearing in 32 matches in all competitions. However, he had missed a significant number of games as well, being on the sidelines due to a knee injury. On top of that, there are also reports suggesting that the keeper might leave in the ongoing transfer window to join a new club.
This has prompted Newcastle to look for a new reliable keeper between the sticks, and it looks like they have already identified a potential candidate for the job. According to the Chronicle Live, Newcastle United have cranked up talks in the last 24 hours to land Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. They further stated that the two clubs are close to reaching an agreement but the deal is not yet finalised.
Newcastle pushing to reach agreement with Burnley for James Trafford
Trafford played a huge role in front of the goal for Burnley, helping the team get back to the Premier League. The England international has kept 29 clean sheets in 45 matches for the Clarets last season. At just 22 years old, these figures speak for themselves. He is an incredible keeper, and the Magpies would not want to miss out on him.
Trafford is a Manchester City academy graduate and moved to Burnley in 2023. The Clarets are reportedly looking for a fee of £40 million (£27 million plus bonuses) for the player.
Trafford has already agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and club-to-club level talks are now underway. If the Magpies do manage to bring in the young England international, he could be their new number one keeper for years to come. But for now nothing is finalised and it’s a matter of wait and watch.