Newcastle United are linked with making a fresh move for James Trafford, just months after missing out on him for the second consecutive summer.
It looked for all the world that the goalkeeper was going to move to St James’ Park, only for James Trafford to snub Newcastle United at the last second.
Manchester City hijacked the Magpies’ deal, bringing Trafford back to the Etihad to the tune of £27million.
However, his return has not gone to plan. After starting the season in the starting XI, he was swiftly replaced by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
That has resulted in talk of an early departure, with Newcastle interested in Trafford yet again.
Let’s say Newcastle have a January transfer budget of £100m. How are you spending it?
Finances could force Newcastle United to miss out on James Trafford again
Talk of Newcastle United being keen on Trafford again should not come as a surprise. They are long-term admirers of him, and that feeling is not going to change despite what happened over the summer.
However, that is not to say that a 2026 deal will happen.
According to the i Paper, there are some people within Newcastle United who want the club to make a fresh move for Trafford.
However, the i Paper cite two reasons why a transfer to Tyneside might not happen:
- Wages
- Transfer fee
That could force the Magpies to take their goalkeeper search elsewhere, as they continue to look for a long-term successor to Nick Pope.
Newcastle United have scouted Guillaume Restes as a potential recruit, while Aaron Ramsdale will hope to prove he can be Eddie Howe’s long-term number one during this current run in the starting XI.
James Trafford situation continues to frustrate Newcastle United
Missing out on Trafford was a real low point in Newcastle United’s summer transfer window.
All the talk was that the 23-year-old was Toon-bound. He wanted Newcastle, and Newcastle wanted him.
After turning us down this summer, do you even want Trafford at Newcastle anymore?! If not, who else do we target?
However, the Magpies struggled to agree a fee with Burnley. By the time they did, Man City swooped in and tempted Trafford with the chance to return to the club that sold him in 2023.
That move will have seen Trafford’s wages increase, which Newcastle will now have to match. It will also allow Man City to demand a fee in excess of the £27million they paid, which is frustrating for the Magpies given how much they were going to pay in the summer.
The Newcastle United recruitment team made a real mess of this one, and continue to pay the price.