Courtesy: Google
Newcastle United have reportedly been eyeing Burnley's goalkeeper James Trafford. The club considers the 22-year-old goalkeeper a prime player in competition with first-choice Pope. United manager Eddie Howe views the goalkeeper not just as a backup but also as a long-term successor for the team, especially to Nick Pope. The club is quite keen to go ahead and sign Trafford as they missed out on onboarding him last summer, as per the report published in The Times.
Pope, 33, has been a reliable presence for Newcastle since joining the club, though injuries have hampered his time on the pitch. Newly promoted Leeds United have shown interest in signing him to bolster their squad. However, Howe is eager to keep the seasoned goalkeeper, stressing the importance of maintaining depth and healthy competition in that role.
James Trafford's exceptional performance in 2024-25 resulted in promotion to the Premier League
Trafford was instrumental in Burnley’s promotion campaign, recording 29 clean sheets in the Championship and conceding just 16 goals overall. After an outstanding season at Turf Moor, Newcastle are hoping he’ll be the next elite talent to follow in the footsteps of Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes.
Further, his outstanding performances throughout the 2024–25 season played a crucial role in Burnley’s return to the Premier League. He matched the record with 29 clean sheets and conceded just 16 goals during the Championship campaign. Newcastle are said to be lining up a bid in the region of £25-30 million for the goalkeeper. Moreover, his performance in Burnley didn't go unnoticed, which made him the most successful goalkeeper for the club.
This made him consider himself a "world-class player". In an interview during April, he said, “I know I’m a world-class goalkeeper. The gaffer is class and, yeah, he told me that last Saturday. The gaffer is brilliant. It’s a brilliant win for him and the way he’s set us up and the message he delivered at half-time.”
