Man City transfer call backfires as £27m clause costs James Trafford Newcastle chance

Had circumstances unfolded differently during the summer transfer window, James Trafford might well have been guarding Newcastle United's goal. Trafford was outstanding last season as Burnley secured promotion from the Championship, with Newcastle monitoring his development across the previous two campaigns.

The Magpies had struck a £27million agreement to bring in the U21 European Champion during the summer, but Manchester City swooped in to scupper the move. City had offloaded Trafford to Burnley in 2023 but cleverly included a provision allowing them to equal any offer from rival clubs for Trafford's services, which they chose to exercise.

Consequently, the 22-year-old returned to City rather than heading to Newcastle and featured in each of their first three Premier League fixtures this campaign.

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Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola's outfit have subsequently brought in Italy's No 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG and he has immediately been thrown into the starting XI, making his debut in Sunday's 3-0 triumph over Manchester United.

This left Trafford relegated to the substitutes' bench and contemplating the possibility of a season spent largely on the sidelines, prompting Shay Given, who represented both Newcastle and Man City throughout his playing days, to declare he would be 'raging' if placed in Trafford's position.

"I do feel for Trafford because I know he was heavily linked with Newcastle," Given told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "My understanding is, well he has the number one jersey on his back but promise isn't the right word in football and guarantee isn't the right word in football but I think James Trafford is a brilliant goalkeeper.

"In the year of a World Cup I think Pep has given him the full sales pitch. 'You're going to come to Manchester City, the number one jersey is yours, you are going to be playing regularly, playing Champions League football and if you play your cards right you might actually play for England in the World Cup next summer'.

"Fast forward two weeks and the big man Donnarumma comes from Italy and he is parked up for the season. I don't know where his mindset is at. I seen him walking around the pitch (after the Manchester derby) and I am just thinking a penny for his thoughts. I know he is young but if it was me I would be raging. Raging I have had that conversation and two weeks later I am on the bench. What does Trafford do now? He is off the back of a phenomenal season. What happens now?"

Newcastle snapped up Southampton shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale as an alternative, though he's struggled to dislodge Nick Pope from the first team. Pope has enjoyed a superb start to the campaign, recording three clean sheets in United's first four fixtures.

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