Newcastle unprepared to meet City’s £50m valuation; Pope to remain as first choice
A move to Newcastle for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford is now unlikely after the north-east club cooled their interest.
Newcastle had tracked the 23-year-old for a long time but are reluctant to meet City’s reported £50m valuation. Trafford’s name has not featured in recruitment discussions at the club this week, according to sources, and there has been no fresh contact since England returned from the World Cup.
City moved ahead of Newcastle to re-sign Trafford from Burnley last summer by activating a £27m buy-back clause and handed him a five-year contract. He was set to take the No 1 spot but his prospects changed after some early mistakes forced City to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £26m, with the Italy goalkeeper becoming the club’s first choice.
Newcastle are instead preparing for the new season with Nick Pope expected to remain Eddie Howe’s No 1. The goalkeeper has been restored as first choice having briefly lost his place following an error against Everton. The club also chose not to make Aaron Ramsdale’s loan move permanent.
Although Pope has entered the final year of his contract and has been linked with newly promoted Ipswich Town, he remains part of Howe’s plans. Newcastle have not ruled out signing another goalkeeper before the transfer window closes, but Trafford is no longer the clear priority.
Trafford’s future is still unresolved and other clubs have been linked with the England international, including Aston Villa, Leeds United and Juventus. His negotiations are being handled by family members rather than a traditional agent.
The goalkeeper made 17 appearances for Manchester City last season, conceding 13 goals and keeping eight clean sheets as the club won both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
