When Anthony Elanga sealed a £55m move to St James’ Park last week, we hoped our summer transfer window would spark into life.
Since then, it’s certainly been a week full of effort, with the club making a big move for Hugo Ekitike that ultimately failed – and this has been a theme of June and July, sadly.
As Eddie Howe said in yesterday’s interview from Austria, we’ve put in a ‘lot of work’ for ‘very little’ incomings, and this may also be true regarding top goalkeeper target James Trafford.
In an exclusive on X on Friday afternoon, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Man City have now entered the race to sign James Trafford.
He reports that Man City are now considering a move for the 22-year-old, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a buy-back clause that allows them to re-sign the Burnley stopper at a set fee without any negotiations.
Romano does state that City will only activate that deal if both of their first choice goalkeepers (Ederson and Orteta) leave, but states that their lingering interest and contact over a possible move is the reason Trafford’s proposed move to Newcastle has not been sealed yet.
While it’s not reported, there is a chance Man City’s clause includes a first refusal on the player, which would stop Newcastle’s striking a deal until it expires, but it’s a major concern that another of Eddie Howe’s top targets is now at risk of ending up elsewhere.
We need to get moving and quickly. The season kicks off in four weeks time and we’re still a goalkeeper, centre-back, midfielder and striker short of being able to compete on four fronts.
lol here we go now every transfer target we’re after is about to be poached you couldn’t make this up … oh wait they did
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Dither and delay, could have had him for £20m but quibbled on the price, now £40m, probably won’t get him like the rest of our supposed targets.
It’s not that deals are not there to be done, we just seem incapable of closing them.
Joseph(Quote)
Deals are complicated and take time. Everyone gets it. But when we have a supposed list of targets, and have (allegedly) done our homework, and have a desperate need fighting on four fronts, the inability to move quickly is surprising. Apparently the SD walking out wasn’t going to impact our Summer….
Peaco(Quote)
Yet another transfer target potentially moving to another club because of our inability to bid anywhere near the selling clubs valuation. It’s turning into a joke
mactoon(Quote)
Just what is it with this football club. You either want a player and pay the price or you don’t. The manager stating at the end of last season that speed was of the essence because good players don’t hang about has obviously fell on deaf ears. Owners need to get their act together, stop hiding behind PSR and reaffirm their ambitions or sell up to someone who will. Absolute shambles.
Steve(Quote)
More transfer “ news” click bait and stories from the media = whinging and crying in the comments 😂🙈
Show some patience and maturity … Man Utd taken months to buy mbuemo and get rid of the filthy five.. it’s two weeks since 1 July and we have one of our top targets let’s see over the next 4 weeks
Mike(Quote)
In 4 weeks time we wi be saying the same thing ,we seem to get talks gojng after letting everyone else know . Cant get deals done then all of a sudden PSR hits us and all top six carry on buying our targets. Rant over.
Joseph Peart(Quote)
Don’t know what toon fans expect, every new season same as, do the sensible thing l did. Follow England cricket 🏏. Kc
Keith(Quote)
The fly in the ointment is PSR and that’s a fact, we are unable to spend what we are able to because we have been stitched up.
Perhaps we should pay the price for three players instead of four.
Pleased we never got Etike as he has shown his preferences on two occasions PSG & LIVERPOOL, he obviously doesn’t fancy us and his heart wouldn’t have been in it.
Let’s hope our recruitment team learn the lesson and stop wasting time on players like that.
If it wasn’t for giving money to Liverpool I think Howe could work wonders with Nunez!
Joseph(Quote)
Is that the same Nunez that couldn’t hit a cows @rse with a banjo 🤔 Benjamin Sesko would be a better bet if we’re going to spend big money on a C F. But I thought our priorities were a right sided centre half and a goalkeeper ? I’d like to see us give young Osula a chance as back up to Isaac . The lad is a bit raw but I like the look of him.Apart from that,what happened to get your business done early ?
Tommy Tantrum(Quote)