Newcastle United Football Club recently had a £45m bid for Swedish right-winger Anthony Elanga rejected by Nottingham Forest. Despite this setback, the club remains hopeful about signing Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford, a player they failed to acquire last year.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle's manager, has long admired Elanga. However, as first reported by the Athletic, Nottingham Forest is extremely reluctant to sell their star player. They also seem uninterested in a potential part-exchange deal involving Newcastle left-winger Harvey Barnes.
If Elanga does end up leaving the City Ground, it is unlikely to be for less than £60m - a sum that Newcastle believes is too high.
Pursuit of goalkeeper Trafford
James Trafford comes with his own hefty price tag - valued at £40m by Burnley. Despite this high valuation, the 22-year-old goalkeeper remains high on Howe’s shopping list after disappointment over a failed £20m move last summer.
Trafford's impressive record of keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding only 16 goals as Burnley won automatic promotion from the Championship has doubled his price tag. His highly assured footwork makes him an attractive prospect for Eddie Howe.
Burnley may drive a hard bargain in negotiations set to open this week; however, signs point towards them preparing for life without Trafford. This speculation arises from their impending acquisition of Karlsruher SC goalkeeper Max Weiss at Turf Moor for about £4.5m. The final decision may hinge on whether Newcastle can negotiate a compromise over the price while considering other goalkeeping alternatives they have in mind.
Closer look at James Trafford
Standing tall at 6ft 6inches tall with excellent shot-stopping skills and footwork that reflects his origins as a highly regarded outfield schoolboy player, Trafford is a commanding presence on the field. Raised on a farm outside the small town of Cockermouth, Trafford has expressed disappointment over last summer’s collapsed transfer.
The potential arrival of Trafford puts the future of Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper, Nick Pope, into question. While Howe would ideally like both Trafford and Pope to compete for a starting spot, Leeds United - recently promoted - holds Pope in high regard.
Moreover, Howe's goalkeeping department is already overstocked with talent such as Martin Dubravka also competing for Trafford. This situation adds another layer to the complex dynamics at play in Newcastle's pursuit of their desired players.
