Former Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper James Trafford is set to ignite a transfer race between Liverpool and Newcastle United for his signature this summer, according to the latest reports.
The Carlisle United academy product moved to Premier League giants Manchester City in 2015 as a 12-year-old but after eight years with the club, Trafford never made his competitive first-team debut and was moved on last summer permanently, with newly-promoted top-flight side Burnley acquiring his services for a reported £19 million.
It was a bold move by the Clarets, signing a shot-stopper whose only experience in men’s football had come with Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers on loan in League One over the past three years. Having never played in a division higher than England’s third tier, Trafford was making a big leap to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old spent most of the campaign as Vincent Kompany’s number one between the sticks at Turf Moor. However, following a 2-2 draw with West Ham United at the London Stadium back in March, the keeper never made another appearance, with the manager preferring Arijanet Muric in net to play a more direct style of football.
Now, with his future uncertain after just twelve months at Burnley, Football Insider are reporting that Trafford could leave the Lancashire outfit as there is interest from top-flight sides Liverpool and Newcastle this summer. Burnley have valued the player at £20 million.
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Furthermore, the outlet are claiming that Liverpool have extensively scouted Trafford over the past few months as they look for a replacement for second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, while the Magpies have made his representatives aware of their interest.
Writer’s View
Perhaps it wasn’t the season Trafford envisioned when he joined Burnley last summer. The two-time Bolton Wanderers loanee made 28 appearances in all competitions but shipped 62 goals and eventually lost his place in the starting lineup to Muric.
Nevertheless, Trafford still earned a call-up by Gareth Southgate to the England national team’s provisional squad ahead of EURO 2024 and certainly has a lot of potential, hence why Liverpool and Newcastle are keen on battling it out for his signature.
