Newcastle United Want To Sign The Burnley Goalkeeper: Why Do They Want Him? | OneFootball

Ben Jacobs via Give Me Sport has reported that Newcastle United want to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window and are targeting James Trafford of Burnley as the one to sign. They might be offloading their number one goalkeeper Nick Pope in the summer and they feel that Trafford might be the perfect replacement for Pope.

Newcastle United want to sign James Trafford

The Englishman did not have a productive tenure at Manchester City, but he has been sensational while playing for Burnley. He has managed to keep 24 clean sheets in the 34 matches that he has played so far in the championship. Trafford has also conceded the least amount of goals in the championship, which is 10.

Burnley won’t want to sell him in the summer but if they don’t earn a promotion in the Premier League, then they will have no options other than offloading him. Trafford stands tall with his commanding presence and sharp goalkeeping traits. The Burnley shotstopper excels in shotstopping, using his quick reflexes and strong hands to thwart the anger. His distribution impresses, as he confidently launches precise long balls to spark attacks.

What are the qualities?

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: James Trafford of Burnley looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley FC and Leeds United FC at Turf Moor on January 27, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Trafford’s composure shines under pressure, enabling him to organize his defense with authority. Additionally, his agility allows him to dominate one-on-one situations, while his anticipation neutralizes crosses effectively. Though still refining consistency, the 22-year-old’s maturity and sweeping ability mark him as a modern goalkeeper with immense potential for club and country. Therefore, he will definitely be a good option to replace Pope, as he is already 32 and Newcastle United want a younger replacement for the player.

Nick Pope has conceded 22 goals and kept 3 clean sheets in 17 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. That means when Pope is in goal, his team concedes a goal every 70 minutes. Nick Pope’s per 90 minutes goals conceded stat is 1.29. In terms of raw goalkeeping, he’s saved 57 of the 81 shots faced, meaning Nick Pope’s save percentage is 70.37%.

However, there will definitely be issues regarding his signing, and it won’t be that easy. Martin Dubravka has decided to stay at the club instead of moving to the Middle East. So, it remains to be seen what happens finally in the summer transfer window.