Carlton Palmer expects Burnley to stick to their £30 million asking price for James Trafford this summer despite considerable interest from Newcastle United.
The Magpies were interested in the 22-year-old last summer, and the two teams were said to have reached an agreement on a £16 million transfer before it fell through.
However, the Clarets can’t seem to shake off Eddie Howe’s side and his efforts this season have seen the goalkeeper’s price tag boosted to £30 million.
This has not deterred Newcastle, who are expected to complete a move for Trafford regardless of whether Burnley are promoted to the Premier League.
This would be a significant blow to Scott Parker, but if Burnley wins promotion, they will be in a great position to demand the highest cost for a player under contract at Turf Moor until 2027.
Carlton Palmer expects Burnley to make things difficult for Newcastle.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World about the alleged figures involved in Trafford’s probable move to St James’ Park, Carlton Palmer stated that Burnley will make Newcastle fight hard to gain his services.
“Newcastle intend to pursue their interest in James Trafford. “He’s 22 and has had an outstanding season for Burnley, keeping 23 clean sheets and not conceding a goal in over 1,000 minutes,” remarked the former England international.
“His performances have been critical to Burnley’s defensive strength, as they have conceded only nine goals in 33 Championship games, 11 fewer than any other team.
“Burnley is keeping firm on their valuation. They signed Trafford for £15 million from Manchester City in 2023 and are in a solid financial position, so they will not let him go easily.
However, the only way they can keep James Trafford is if they are promoted back to the Premier League. “He will not want to play second fiddle to Nick Pope.” Pope has been a reliable shot-stopper, but injuries and age necessitate that Newcastle plan ahead.
“He is under contract, they are in a strong position, he is 22, and I believe the fee is a little high, but it could be £30 million well spent.”
“They (Newcastle) will have to act swiftly because if other teams, such as Manchester United, begin searching, it may turn into a bidding battle, and they could lose out. So they should go on with it and close the deal.” James Trafford has left the nightmares of 2023-24 behind him.
Trafford signed for their Premier League campaign in 2023-24, but his first season at Turf Moor was a nightmare as he failed and was finally replaced by Arijanet Muric.
However, the Kosovan’s exit to Ipswich Town and the arrival of Scott Parker have given him a fresh lease on life. This season, he has conceded only nine goals in front of a strong defence, and his 10.5 goals prevented total is only surpassed by Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson.
| James Trafford 2024/25 Championship stats | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 33 |
| Starts | 33 |
| Clean sheets | 24 |
| Goals conceded | 9 |
| Goals Prevented | 10.5 |
| Saves | 66 |
| Save percentage % | 88.0 |
| Pass accuracy % | 70.6 |
Arguably, his most critical and potentially season-defining moment occurred against Sunderland, when he saved two penalties to help the Clarets earn a 0-0 draw.
This has caused his price to climb, and at this stage, £30 million appears to be a fair price for a player of his calibre. If Trafford returns to the Premier League, he will hope for better results than the last time, but his incredible season at Turf Moor can only help him.
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