A general view of Newcastle United supporters waiting outside the stadium for news of the latest developments in the sale of the club to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund for 300 million-pound ($408 million) takeover in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England Thursday Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
According to reports, Newcastle has put up a first offer for Burnley’s James Trafford in an attempt to win the competition and get the promising goalkeeper.
The Magpies want to reorganize their roster this summer, but they will have to be careful because their status under the Profit and Sustainability Rules prevents them from making big-money additions unless significant sales are made possible.
Eddie Howe’s side are keen to kickstart their summer spending spree early in the window though, with the Daily Mail reporting that the St James’ Park outfit have made an offer worth £16million for Trafford.
Burnley are expecting plenty of interest in their No. 1 over the coming months, with Chelsea among his growing list of admirers in what promises to be a merry-go-round of keeper changes in the Premier League this summer.
Liverpool and Bayern Munich are also said to have been tracking the 21-year-old, and the Clarets are therefore not willing to part ways with Trafford unless their valuation of £20m is met by one of his suitors.
Discussions between Burnley and Newcastle are therefore ongoing, with the latter keen to accelerate talks as soon as possible and grant Howe his transfer wish of adding a new goalkeeper to his ranks this summer.
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale has been heavily linked with joining the Magpies previously after falling out of favour at the Emirates Stadium, but the ex-Sheffield United star’s price tag prompted Newcastle to turn their attention to alternative options.
It remains to be seen whether a bidding war for their now-top target Trafford could see Howe’s side reconsider Ramsdale or whether the Toon Army are fixated on landing the young shot-stopper.
Striking a deal for the ex-Manchester City star will be the priority for Howe’s side given that Chelsea have shown already this summer that they are willing to flex their financial powers to hijack deals.
The Blues have already marked the start of Enzo Maresca’s tenure in the Stamford Bridge dugout by signing Tosin Adarabioyo as a free agent after the centre-back opted to run his contract down with Fulham.
Newcastle were locked in talks with the defender for weeks but ultimately saw their offer trumped by their Premier League rivals, and signing Trafford from under the noses of Chelsea could be the ideal revenge plan.
