We may be a few months away from the summer window, but some big transfer claims arrived on Thursday night.
It’s been a frustrating few years off the pitch, with the club’s PSR position impacting our ability to bring in new recruits, but it’s thought that will change heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
Paul Mitchell’s job is to push recruitment on all levels – from Eddie Howe’s first-team to the latest wave of Academy talent – and it seems players from both ends of the scale are on course to arrive.
According to Craig Hope at The Mail, Newcastle United are on course to wrap up a deal for long-term target James Trafford this summer.
After serious interest from Newcastle over the summer and a £16m bid, he reports that the Burnley stopper’s proposed switch to St James’ Park is now ‘expected to be completed without any hitches’ at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Hope states that sources have expressed ‘extreme confidence’ in the deal going ahead, with Trafford set on a move to Tyneside after previously agreeing to join Eddie Howe’s side last summer as Nick Pope’s long-term replacement.
It’s believed the fee this summer would be higher than the £16m offered last year,f but that should not be a problem, with the player due to sign whether Burnley – currently third in the Championship – win promotion back to the Premier League or not.
Trafford is currently on an incredible run of 11 games without conceding a goal for the Clarets, with that period featuring two penalty saves against Sunderland last month.
Trafford isn’t the only goalkeeper set to sign on Tyneside, with Hope reporting that Newcastle have won the race to sign Leyton Orient’s Lucas Flack.
The highly-rated stopper recently played for Newcastle at the Hale End Cup, hosted at Arsenal’s Academy base, and was named goalkeeper of the tournament as the young Magpies went on to win the tournament featuring Toulouse, Arsenal, Avispa Fukuoka, Blackburn and Hertha Berlin.
Flack currently plays at U14 level and is very much one for the future, but it’s believed Newcastle beat a number of Premier League rivals to his signature, showing our commitment to recruiting top domestic talent at all age groups.
🚨 NEWCASTLE CONFIDENTIAL 🚨
🧤 James Trafford… big transfer update
🌟 Leyton Orient star signs!
🇳🇱 Sven Botman concern
🇧🇷 Joelinton return date
🇳🇬 Murphy’s Nigeria decision revealed
🏴 England @ SJP call made👇 All in my exclusive NUFC column…https://t.co/0GOFWU6C5k
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) February 20, 2025
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