Howe must cash in on £60k-per-week Newcastle star who "looks petrified"

Newcastle United are just over a week away from the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Liverpool await.

What should be a joyous occasion has been tainted by a slew of setbacks, casting Eddie Howe’s squad back into a depleted state that makes life difficult indeed given the calibre of opposition.

Still, the sixth-place Magpies are one of the most dangerous teams in Europe on their day. If Newcastle can make it a successful finish to the campaign, it would help immensely going into the 2025/26 campaign.

Newcastle are reportedly ‘excited’ by the upcoming transfer window after battling through PSR concerns, with Howe looking to be backed as he pushes for a return to the Champions League.

Newcastle’s transfer plans this summer

Now that Miguel Almiron’s re-signed for Atlanta United in an £8m deal, Newcastle are short on options at right wing.

Jacob Murphy’s form has mitigated the urgency, but Premier League stars such as Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford are allegedly on the shortlist and could be targetted this summer.

With Sven Botman struggling for fitness and Lloyd Kelly leaving on loan in January, a centre-back would also go down a treat, but Newcastle are also eyeing a deal further back.

James Trafford, 22, has been incredible between the sticks for Burnley this season, keeping 24 clean sheets from 34 Championship matches and saving 87% of his shots faced, as per Sofascore.

Is it any wonder the Toon are keen on a deal? TalkSPORT suggest Burnley will want £30m for their goalkeeper, but this would surely be worthwhile as Howe looks to engineer the next phase in Newcastle’s development.

If he’s welcomed, though, someone will need to go…

Howe must cash in on £60k-per-week star

Newcastle might be compliant with PSR-related concerns, but if they wish to invest, sales will be necessary.

If Newcastle strike gold and bring Trafford to St. James’ Park, it makes little sense to keep Nick Pope on the books, an idea Howe subscribes to given United are already stirring up plans for his sale this summer.

As per Football Insider, Newcastle would be willing to let Pope exit for around £15m in the next window, which would be an absolute triumph given he was purchased from Burnley for just £10m.

Pope has been a stalwart shot-stopper during his time at Newcastle, but having been dealt a string of injury blows this season, PIF chiefs are warming to the idea of his sale since he is losing his way between the sticks.

With unavailability and a declining sense of security in shot saving, bagging a rising star of Trafford’s ability makes a lot of sense.

Moreover, the 32-year-old (who turns 33 next month) is in the penultimate year of his £60k-per-week contract. With Trafford at the top of the Toon’s wish list, it feels right that he should move on this summer, no longer boasting his one-time unflappability and indeed feeling the effects of Father Time.

There have been several indicators of regression. Recently, loose passing and a lack of authority nearly cost Newcastle in a 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest, while his shot-stopping security has also raised questions – see below against Tottenham Hotspur.

Reporter Adam Clery even suggested several weeks ago the England international “looks absolutely petrified” when diving – a by-product of his injury issues – and that this is “fatal” for a goalkeeper.

Trafford would be the perfect fit to jockey with Martin Dubravka for the top spot, having been hailed for his “sensational” exploits this season by Burnley podcaster Natalie Bromley.

Bringing Trafford in would create a neat kind of continuity, for Pope too came from Turf Moor. His ship has run its course, and Howe will want to make the requisite transfer adjustments this summer to take his Tyneside crew to the next level.

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