Newcastle United’s pursuit of James Trafford is heating up as Eddie Howe eyes the Burnley goalkeeper to strengthen his squad. The 22-year-old, who moved from Manchester City to Burnley in 2023, has been a revelation in the Championship. With 13 clean sheets in 22 games and only nine goals conceded, Trafford’s performances have been pivotal to Burnley’s promotion push.

The Magpies are reportedly preparing a £20 million bid after their £15 million summer approach was rejected. While Nick Pope remains Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper, Trafford is seen as a long-term successor, capable of challenging Pope and eventually becoming the club’s number one.

Burnley, however, are reluctant to part with their star shot-stopper mid-season. Manager Scott Parker views Trafford as integral to their promotion ambitions, but a significant offer from Newcastle might change their stance. With backup goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky available, Burnley could reinvest the funds to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the campaign.

This potential move highlights Newcastle’s ambitions to build depth and future-proof their squad, while Burnley faces a dilemma between short-term goals and long-term financial benefits. The January window could see this saga take an intriguing turn.