Despite two failed attempts to sign him and his eventual move to Man City last summer, the James Trafford saga continues to rumble on.
Last weekend, the goalkeeper looked (and sounded) visibly dejected at his current situation at Man City, admitting that he “tried to guard against” the situation he finds himself in, where he is currently acting as back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
TalkSPORT reported that we plan to reignite our interest in the 23-year-old, while The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has today released a new piece on Trafford’s situation, explaining what happened last summer and why a summer move may not be simple.
Starting with what happened, Edwards reveals that, despite Eddie Howe’s request for Newcastle to move quickly for Trafford, former sporting director Paul Mitchell played a key role in scuppering the deal.
He reports that Mitchell played hardball, refusing to pay more than £25m in a tactic that angered Burnley, seeing the Clarets up their asking price to £35m, creating a deadlock between the two parties.
Mitchell then departed and, in mid-July, just as Toon chiefs had agreed a £27m compromise with Burnley that included Martin Dubravka heading in the other direction, the time wasted allowed Man City to step in, agree a deal and gain first refusal to land their former Academy star.
Edwards reveals that Trafford still had a decision to make – Man City or Newcastle – but the former sweetened the deal by offering to pay the England talent ‘well in excess of £100,000′, with these terms almost double what he would’ve earned on Tyneside.
Two thirds of a season later, Trafford is clearly unhappy and Newcastle remain keen to sign Howe’s long-term goalkeeper target, but it’s widely accepted that the player must agree to a lower salary if he’s to eventually end up at St James’ Park.
The Telegraph insist that Trafford was keen to sign for much of last summer, talking to Alan Shearer about the move and telling friends on holiday that he was Newcastle-bound, but his desire to play regularly again will be tested this summer now money could be a key factor.
Interestingly, Edwards states that Man City may be open to a loan deal this summer, but Newcastle are typically reluctant to commit to such a move unless there is an obligation or option to make the move permanent, with such transfers considered “dead money” in the world of PSR.
So, will Man City offer favourable terms and sanction a permanent exit? Will Newcastle push to sign him for a third time after being burnt previously? And will Trafford agree to lower his wage demands to make a move to the North East possible?
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