Newcastle United’s long-running pursuit of James Trafford could soon reach a decisive stage, with the Manchester City goalkeeper reportedly preparing to make a decision on his future following England’s World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina.
The Magpies have been chasing Trafford for multiple transfer windows and appear ready to revive their interest once again as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen the goalkeeping department ahead of the new season.
According to Newcastle World’s Charlie Bennett, Trafford
plans to assess his options after returning from international duty, with Newcastle remaining firmly in the race for his signature.
After an initial approach two summers ago and failing to land him on the 11th hour a year ago, Newcastle is targeting the 23-year-old for a third consecutive summer after Manchester City signed him last year.
Bennett confirmed that Trafford is open to leaving the Etihad Stadium in search of regular first-team soccer, with the goalkeeper having previously spoken publicly about his frustration over limited playing time.
The problem for Newcastle, even though the interest is real, could be Trafford’s wages. The goalie reportedly earns around €117,000 (£100,000) per week at Manchester City and may need to accept a reduction to complete a move.
According to Newcastle World, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United are also monitoring the goalkeeper’s situation, while Manchester City is expected to seek around €47 million (£40 million) for his transfer.
The report touched on Trafford’s past decision, when he already agreed to join Newcastle before City’s late intervention last summer, leaving the Magpies hopeful they can finally complete a deal if he decides to move on.
With uncertainty also surrounding Nick Pope’s future despite the arrival of Ewen Jaouen, Trafford is one of the biggest names to watch during the upcoming days, with a decision on his next club expected in the coming weeks.
