According to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, Newcastle United remain interested in signing young Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford.
After a disappointing summer transfer window, Newcastle supporters will have high expectations for a much improved effort to sign players when the market reopens in January.
The Magpies haven’t had their best start to the Premier League season as they are currently 11th in the table, but after an outstanding 1-0 victory over Arsenal at St James’ Park last weekend, it will certainly be a huge confidence boost in their attempts to extend upon their winning ways when they travel to the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
The inconsistency in performances of late has been blamed on several different factors, but the most common reoccurring concern is the lack of direction in the recruitment strategy to improve the squad on Tyneside.
New sporting director Paul Mitchell will be tasked with the huge responsibility to add depth to crucial positions in the January transfer window to ensure that Newcastle can comfortably compete for qualification of European football over the second half of the campaign.
A right winger and a centre back signing remain the top priorities for the Geordies in the turn of the year, however, it is looking like they will also reignite interest in bolstering another key position.
In a Q&A session on The Athletic, popular Newcastle journalist Chris Waugh spoke out on the club’s desire to add another goalkeeper to their ranks to become the replacement for Nick Pope.
Waugh revealed that the club remains interested in signing Burnley keeper James Trafford as he has a similar profile to Pope, and while Martin Dubravka is nice to have around, he was unable to meet the demands when the number one was absent for months with a shoulder injury last season.
The journalist further noted that though new signing Odysseas Vlachodimos has shown potential, he has struggled to convince Eddie Howe that he is up to the task in a consistent first team role.
It was reported by GIVEMESPORT in the summer that Burnley were only willing to part ways with their keeper for £20m and no less, despite Trafford agreeing personal terms with Newcastle, it was a fee that the club did not meet before the transfer window closed.
Will Newcastle sign James Trafford in January?
There is no doubt that Trafford fits the profile to become the natural successor to Pope when his time comes to an end on Tyneside, but is it the biggest priority for Newcastle to address in the new year?
Centre back Sven Botman is expected to make his return after ACL surgery over the festive period, which will be a massive boost to the defensive set up and Howe’s ability to deploy his defensive tactics more effectively, and Pope is looking unlikely to be displaced in the first team at this moment in time.
As a result, it would be surprising to see Trafford – dubbed “outstanding” by Bart Verbruggen – drop out of first team football half way through the season to sit on the bench behind Pope at St James’, but could be an opportunity worth exploring in the summer.
In the meantime, Newcastle must look for ways to reignite the spark in their attacking threat to unlock Alexander Isak’s brilliance in the immediate and an improvement in quality on the right wing should be the top priority for the Magpies.
Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo is reported to be the desired target Newcastle will chase in the January transfer, and their focuses should reside mainly on getting a deal done for him if the Bees are open to lucrative offers.
