Newcastle United’s search for a long-term Nick Pope replacement has been evident over the past 18 months, and it’s largely pointed towards one man: James Trafford.
The club failed with a £16m bid in the summer of 2024, with Burnley opting to stand firm on their valuation and keep him on Turf Moor as they pushed to seal immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
They achieved exactly that, but couldn’t keep hold of the England prospect this summer. The Manchester Evening News (MEN) reveal that Newcastle had a £27m bid accepted by the Clarets in July, but Man City were given the chance to match that offer based on the buy-back clauses included in his exit, and did exactly that.
So, Newcastle missed out, kept Pope and signed Aaron Ramsdale instead on a season-long loan. At the Etihad, however, it’s quickly turned sour for Trafford, with Italy No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma arriving in Ederson’s place and immediately take up a starting role in Pep Guardiola’s side.
The 26-year-old has started every league game since arriving, leaving Trafford an unused substitute in all of Man City’s last eight league games and seeing him lose his place in the latest England squad until Pope was forced to withdraw with concussion.
With his England hopes suffering and the former Burnley star not happy to sit on the bench at the Etihad, MEN report that it’s now ‘inevitable’ that Trafford will look to leave in 2026.
Trafford clearly feels he is losing ground on England rivals Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson ahead of next summer’s World Cup, and he could even push to leave City in January.
While a January move for the 23-year-old looks unlikely based on Ramsdale’s arrival until the end of the 2025/26 season, it is entirely possible that Newcastle reignite their interest in the 6ft 4′ stopper at some stage in the New Year.
The writing is on the wall for him at Man City now Donnarumma has arrived, a long-term replacement for Pope is very much needed and Trafford has previously admitted that he was close to joining Newcastle in an interview earlier this year, indicating he’d be open to a switch North.
Speaking on the Fozcast, he told Ben Foster that Newcastle was a move he “believed in” and “brilliant” for his career, saying: “In the summer (2024) I think people knew I wanted to move. The club that I was close to going, it was a good fit for me. It was brilliant for me and I really believed in it.”
“I wanted to move, not just because I didn’t want to play in the Championship, I had no shame playing in the Championship. I have no ego to think I’m better than the Championship. You only prove something by performing and showing people. You can say whatever you want but unless you perform…
“It was just when an opportunity and a situation you think suits you can happen, you should take it and you should try and go for it, so I wanted to move. It was close but it didn’t end up happening.”
yeah lets buy him and watch as Eddie keeps him on the bench, personally think Ramsdale is a better keeper at this present time but Trafford has time on his side.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)