Fabrizio Romano: Newcastle agree personal terms for ‘incredible’ star ahead of summer transfer

James Trafford has emerged as Newcastle United’s top goalkeeper target, with the Premier League club having reached an agreement on personal terms with the Burnley shot-stopper since the summer of 2024, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper has been a standout performer in the EFL Championship and is seen as the long-term solution for the Magpies’ goalkeeping needs.

This move comes on the back of Martin Dubravka’s recent one-year contract extension, which keeps the 36-year-old Slovakian goalkeeper at St James’ Park to compete with 32-year-old Nick Pope for the starting role.

Although both have their merits, including Dubravka’s experience and Pope’s consistency, Eddie Howe’s interest in signing a younger goalkeeper has only grown. With Pope facing recurring injury issues and Dubravka’s disappointing performance in the 4-0 loss to Manchester City further intensifying the discussions, a move for Trafford is becoming more likely.

The Magpies had previously attempted to secure Trafford’s services with a £15 million offer in August 2024, but Burnley rebuffed their bid. Despite this setback, Newcastle’s interest has remained steadfast. The club continues to see Trafford as the future of their goalkeeping department, hoping to bring him in during the upcoming summer window.

Trafford, who has been exceptional for Burnley this season, has managed an impressive 24 clean sheets in 33 Championship appearances, showcasing his undeniable potential.

Since joining Burnley in 2022 from Manchester City for £15 million, Trafford has been instrumental in the team’s rise to third place in the Championship, keeping them firmly in the promotion race. With Burnley eager to keep hold of their key player, it’s clear that securing a fee between the two clubs will be essential for any transfer to go through.

Romano further confirmed that personal terms between Newcastle and Trafford remain in place, signaling that a move could still be on the cards. “Newcastle agreed personal terms with James Trafford since summer 2024, and the verbal pact is still valid. He’s still top of the list as the new goalkeeper for Newcastle next season,” said Romano.

In terms of his performance, Trafford has certainly lived up to the hype this season. His statistics in the Championship stand out as truly remarkable, particularly his ability to maintain a strong defensive record.

He boasts an incredible save rate, successfully saving three penalties out of three attempts, and he has been crucial in Burnley’s defensive solidity, preventing over 10 goals in the process.

His record of 10 consecutive clean sheets, which set a new record for the longest minutes without conceding in the EFL Championship (910 minutes), highlights just how instrumental he has been for his team.

While Newcastle remains firmly in the race for Trafford’s signature, they must navigate the situation carefully, given that Manchester City, his former club, holds a buy-back clause. This clause allows City to re-sign Trafford for a fee over £40 million, which could complicate matters.

However, with no current indication that Pep Guardiola is interested in bringing Trafford back to the Etihad, the buy-back clause may not be a major obstacle for Newcastle.

As things stand, it appears that James Trafford is on the verge of making a significant move in his career, one that could take him to the Premier League with Newcastle United.

Should the deal go through, he would represent a major investment for the club, and his potential to become a long-term fixture in the starting lineup is clear. For now, all eyes will remain on how negotiations progress, with Trafford’s future possibly taking a significant turn in the upcoming transfer window.