Newcastle United target tipped for ‘very good’ England future amid £20m transfer links

Vincent Kompany backed Newcastle United James Trafford for international success despite axing him for Burnley last season.

The Clarets stumped up around £19million to sign the England under-21 international last summer. Trafford was part of the Young Lions side that won the Euros a year ago - saving a stoppage-time penalty as Lee Carsley’s side beat Spain in the final.

Kompany, as a Manchester City legend, used his connections to sign the goalkeeper ahead of Burnley’s top-flight return. But the 21-year-old endured a testing Premier League campaign which ended in relegation.

Traffford was dropped for the final 10 games of the season, with Arijanet Muric, another former City youngster, given the nod. That has not stopped Trafford from earning a call-up to England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024 - and links to Newcastle. 

Several sources claim the Magpies are weighing up an approach for the rookie shot-stopper as backup to Nick Pope. Loris Karius will leave the club next month and Martin Dubravka failed to impress when given the gloves last season. 

Newcastle were reportedly targeting Aaron Ramsdale until Arsenal priced him out of a move. Relegation means Burnley are more open to a deal and Eddie Howe would view Trafford as the long-term successor to Pope. 

Speaking last month, outgoing Clarets boss Kompany, set to take charge at Bayern Munich, tipped Trafford for a big future. He said: “We’re very proud of it as a club to have a player in the England team. I don’t think there’s a greater honour for a club.

But I’ve told you this so many times about the fact he will be a very good goalkeeper for England. At this moment in time, we only take it as a positive and everything else is just for him to keep progressing and keep fighting for his spot.”