The summer transfer window is always a rollercoaster for any football club, filled with highs of successful signings and the lows of missing out on top targets.
For Newcastle United, this past window was no different. While the final outcome was largely positive, with six new senior players arriving to significantly strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad, the journey to get there involved its fair share of disappointment.
The club had a long list of potential targets, and not every deal they pursued could be completed.
It’s always interesting to look back at the players who were heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park but ended up elsewhere.
Some of them, like Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro, have hit the ground running at their new clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea.
For others, the story has been a bit different. One name that stands out is Benjamin Sesko, whose move to Manchester United has not yet provided the spark many had anticipated.
Then there is the curious case of goalkeeper James Trafford. His situation is particularly noteworthy because it involves a player who actively chose a different path over a move to Newcastle.
For a long time, it appeared that Trafford was destined to become a Newcastle player.
The club was in the market for a young, talented goalkeeper to eventually succeed Nick Pope, and Trafford, with his impressive performances for Bolton Wanderers, seemed like the perfect fit.
Negotiations dragged on, and by the time Newcastle presented an offer that was acceptable, Manchester City had entered the picture.
For Trafford, the pull of returning to the club where he began his youth career was simply too strong.
He turned down the opportunity to become Newcastle’s potential long-term number one in favor of a emotional return to the Etihad Stadium for a fee of £27 million.
Initially, his decision seemed justified as he started the season as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper.
However, the landscape at Manchester City changed dramatically with the arrival of Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The experienced goalkeeper, considered one of the best in the world, was signed to be the undisputed starter.
He made his debut in the Manchester derby and put on an absolutely stunning performance, making a series of incredible saves including a truly world-class stop to deny Bryan Mbeumo to keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win.
Trafford, who had started the season, was now relegated to the bench, and it is a position he is likely to occupy for the foreseeable future.
The situation even sparked a discussion on the popular podcast The Rest Is Football, hosted by Gary Lineker, Micah Richards, and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
While Lineker and Richards expressed sympathy for the young goalkeeper having lost his place, Shearer, known for his straightforward opinions, had a different view.
He bluntly stated that Trafford’s current predicament was a situation of his own making, remarking, “He should have signed for Newcastle then, shouldn’t he?”
It is easy to wonder if Trafford is now having second thoughts about his choice. At Newcastle, he would have been given a clear and direct pathway to eventually become the team’s main goalkeeper, learning from an experienced pro like Nick Pope. Instead, he finds himself playing second fiddle to a global superstar.
Yet, there is an interesting twist to this story. Even if Trafford had chosen Newcastle, he would almost certainly not be playing any more than he is now.
In fact, he might be playing even less. Eddie Howe has placed his full trust in Nick Pope to start the season, and the English goalkeeper has repaid that faith immensely.
Pope has been in fantastic form, keeping three clean sheets in the first four Premier League games. His performances have been so strong that another summer signing, the highly-rated Aaron Ramsdale, has also found it impossible to get any minutes on the pitch.
So, while Trafford might be watching from the Manchester City bench, he would likely be in the exact same position at Newcastle.
The grass is not always greener, and sometimes a move that feels right in the moment can lead to a very different reality.
For Newcastle, missing out on James Trafford does not feel like a blow anymore. They have moved on, their squad is stronger, and their number one goalkeeper is in the form of his life. Sometimes, the best deals are the ones you don’t make.
