Newcastle United have sealed their position in the Champions League next season after taking fifth place in the Premier League and widening the scope of Eddie Howe’s plans.
Athletic’s David Ornstein says star striker Alexander Isaac is expected to remain at St James Park next year, but recent reports suggest that Magpies are ready to make bold double soups for Crystal Palace Titan, Titan’s Brentford’s Brian Mbeumo and FA Cup winner Mark Gae.
However, the work does not stop. In fact, Newcastle is trying to strengthen the stick-to-stick.
Newcastle’s ready-to-be-bidden new star bids
According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle is preparing to make its first formal offer to Burnley for shot stopper Jame Straford, worth more than £20 million.
The 22-year-old keeper is expected to have an interesting gust of wind, with both Chelsea and Manchester United keen on championship superstars.
However, Newcastle aims to make the deals great and fast as Nick Pope is lined up for the exit.
Why Newcastle Wants to James Trafford
The Pope is a stubborn servant of Newcastle and joined from Burnley in June 2022 on a £10 million deal.
But it’s not the Pope who will encourage the transition to Tyneside by England U21 International. Rather, Trafford could be Howe’s next version of Anthony Gordon.
Before looking at exactly why, let’s take a quick look at the rise of Trafford’s meteors.
After some successful loan spells in League One, some left the Youth Academy for Youth Moore in Manchester City in 2023, and some felt the £19 million transfer fee was a bit excessive.
He has since been an instrumental part of Burnley’s success, and the focus of watertight defense, which has maintained 30 clean sheets throughout the championship season.
Trafford missed just one match, enjoying a 29 shutout, saving two penalties and incredibly admitting just 16 goals.
James Trafford – Career Statistics by Club | ||
---|---|---|
club | App | A beautiful sheet |
Bolton | 74 | 33 |
Burnley | 73 | 31 |
Man City U21 | 13 | 6 |
acc. Stanley | 11 | 2 |
Man City U18 | 10 | 6 |
Statistics through the Transfer Market |
Truly, he is extremely important in helping Clarett secure promotion to the Premier League and has been praised by manager Scott Parker for being a “world-class goalkeeper.”
With his cocky personality and acrobatic athletic ability to back up his sw athleticism, Trafford will undoubtedly set his sights on becoming the mainstay of the Three Lions emulating Gordon.
In fact, England International Gordon made the right move in January 2023 by leaving Everton for £45 million. After notching 28 goals involvement from 48 games, he acquired the player of the year in Newcastle’s first full season.
The duo played together in the U21S, and Gordon said he “trusts to save something” towards a 1-0 victory after a mysterious display against Spain in the final of the U21 European Championship.
Like Gordon, Trafford went through one of the Goliath’s Academy in the Premier League, but failed to perform in seniors in Manchester City.
That being said, 24-year-old Gordon is actually a member of the Youth Folding in Liverpool, and has since left 11 and found a new home in the blue half of Merseyside.
Newcastle’s starwinger lit up the world at Goodison Park and scored just seven times in 78 matches as Toffee, but he showed off his hunger and skills that can be shaped and developed under the wings of Howe.
Now, Trafford has to make a leap and follow suit.
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