Speaking ahead of last night’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, Eddie Howe addressed rumours that the club has agreed terms with one of their most sought after targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

The player, who Newcastle have pursued for multiple windows in the past, is widely expected to arrive ahead of the 2024/25 season, with talk of a summer transfer ramping up earlier this month.

However, if Howe’s comments this week are anything to go by, a deal is not currently as advanced as some in the media are claiming…although we’ve heard that before!

Howe responds to Trafford rumours

Last week, The Mail’s Craig Hope reported that there is now an expectation Burnley’s James Trafford will be a Newcastle United player next season.

He claimed the player is still keen to sign after an agreement was in place on the player’s side last summer, insisting a deal is on track, whether the Clarets are promoted or not. However, Howe’s take on such rumours was a very different one.

Addressing the current speculation about Trafford’s potential summer move to Tyneside, Howe said: “I don’t believe we are in that position with any player. The summer window is a long way away and we have not begun those discussions.”

In fairness, Howe was never going to say much different while Burnley are battling for promotion and we are still a few months away from the summer window, but it’s the first time he’s publicly addressed the rumours.

Will Trafford end up on Tyneside?

Hope wasn’t the only reporter to discuss Trafford’s future last week, with Fabrizio Romano stating that personal teams had been agreed last summer, with a “verbal pact still valid” between both parties. 

One concern is if Burnley are promoted, how much would his asking price increase? The fee could potentially fluctuate depending on their league status and just how imperative the club see Trafford to their success next season.

It’s believed we had a £16m bid rejected last summer and, after 12 straight clean sheets and two penalty saves against Sunderland, Trafford’s stock is only rising.

The Dubravka and Pope predicament

Given his age (22), potential and prior Premier League experience, Trafford understandably sits top of Eddie Howe’s list of desired keepers; but where would that leave the two other No.1 keepers on the club’s books.

Martin Dubravka has only just signed a contract extension with the club earlier this month, and is many fans’ preferred starter for the rest of the campaign after playing a solid role in our brilliant run of wins across December and January.

Nick Pope meanwhile has been a long standing favourite of Howe, but his unconvincing return to the starting XI over the past two games has seen him receive criticism.

If Pope’s best days really are behind him, perhaps he could be the keeper to move on this summer, with Dubravka’s new deal ensuring he stays as a reliable back-up option?