- Shearer claims Man City player will join Newcastle
- Newcastle push to find a new No 1
- Carabao Cup final performance
Newcastle United have been searching for a keeper for the past 18 months, with strong links to James Trafford before his return to Manchester City. Club legend Alan Shearer believes the English shot stopper could still move to Tyneside.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer backed his former club to get the move done this summer.
He said, “He’s coming to Newcastle, lads. It wouldn’t surprise me. It was almost done and dusted last summer, and then, for whatever reason, City came back in with a buy-back clause.”
The Premier League all-time top scorer continued:
“I would like to think that Newcastle would be back in for him. He will definitely have options.”
Newcastle Goalkeeper dilemma
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the St James’ Park outfit wouldn’t look to sign Aaron Ramsdale on a permanent deal once his loan expired.
The 27-year-old was brought to the club following Trafford’s sale to City, as Eddie Howe and his team pushed hard to bring the former Burnley keeper to Tyneside, but nothing materialised.
For most of his time in Black and White, the loanee has been second-choice to Nick Pope, though the 33-year-old has had a particularly difficult season for the Magpies.
A series of mistakes has had the Toon Army questioning his future in Howe’s squad, and a costly error against Everton has seen him drop to the bench.
With the need to cement a number one, the Magpies have begun exploring options ahead of the summer window.
Trafford has had limited opportunities under Pep Guardiola, mainly due to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performances. However, the 23-year-old has shown his quality when in between the sticks.
City’s Carabao Cup victory on Sunday was another example of this, as he made an outstanding triple save early in the affair at Wembley.
The keeper has previously expressed his displeasure at being a backup, which could lead the Tyneside outfit to pursue their interest once again.
Carabao Cup win praise
Trafford was pleased to have gone on and won the League Cup over the weekend, his first piece of major silverware in his career.
In an interview with BBC Sport, former City goalkeeper Joe Hart claims the young keeper has continued to show great signs.
“I think he’s set the tone every time he’s played; he’s been excellent”
Hart continued.
“He’s played with absolute calmness, and the biggest compliment I think I can pay to him outside of that treble save was that he wasn’t overly troubled.”
Members of the Newcastle fanbase have at times been critical of Pope and Ramsdale’s erratic play, which has led to tense moments at the back.
New sporting director Ross Wilson is looking for new alternatives at goal who can bring calm to the defence, and Trafford has shown he can be the solution.
