Newcastle prepare summer transfer swoop for £31M-rated Manchester City man | OneFootball

Officials at St James’ Park are reportedly readying a move for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford ahead of the summer market.

Trafford came through the youth ranks in Manchester, and went on to enjoy successful loan spells with Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers before moving to Burnley on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023.

He started the 2023/24 season as the Clarets’ first-choice, but had been displaced by former City man Arijanet Muric by the end of the season. However, he turned his spell at Turf Moor around, producing one of, if not the best ever individual seasons by a goalkeeper in the EFL.

Whilst James Trafford was establishing himself as one of the hottest prospects in world football, the goalkeeping department at the Etihad Stadium became increasingly stale, and both Ederson and Stefan Ortega suffered a dip in form. As such, the return of Trafford in the summer of 2025 became an easy choice for sporting director Hugo Viana.

But events have not gone to plan from Trafford’s perspective, with the initial idea being for the young Englishman to play a good number of games and share goalkeeping duties with Ederson or Ortega. However, Gianluigi Donnarumma – widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in the world – became available for a cut-price fee late in the summer window.

The big Italian’s arrival coincided with Ederson’s departure and Ortega’s exile from first-team duties, instantly assuming the role of undisputed number one, and meaning Trafford’s game time has been extremely restricted since the end of September – making 11 appearances for City this season, the vast majority of which have come in cup competitions.

In the summer, Manchester City’s bid to sign James Trafford was actually fairly sudden as they exercised their matching rights to snatch the Englishman away from Newcastle United. Now, Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke believes the Magpies will renew interest during the summer, provided Aaron Ramsdale returns to Southampton.

Ramsdale was the goalkeeper Eddie Howe effectively signed instead of Trafford. But the 27-year-old has failed to displace Nick Pope as No.1 at St. James’ Park, making just 14 appearances, perhaps meaning it is highly likely he will return to the South coast in June.

It is further reported that Aston Villa and Leeds United hold interest in signing James Trafford, with Unai Emery’s side viewing him as the long-term successor to Emiliano Martinez.

In an ideal world, James Trafford would stay at the Etihad Stadium, viewed as a tremendously talented goalkeeper and one expected to make his mark as England’s No.1 and go on to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Unfortunately, the Englishman seems relatively powerless to get into the Manchester City team over Gianluigi Donnarumma, and seems set on the idea that a move away from the Etihad Stadium will be best for his development. It is now up to Hugo Viana to negotiate a fee, potentially a buy-back clause, and a potential replacement.