Newcastle are now likely to miss out on ‘outstanding’ player they’ve been chasing for months

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Newcastle United cannot catch a break in the transfer market.

Only hours after Newcastle pulled the plug on their pursuit of Marc Guehi despite a number of offers for the England international, a deadline day move for Anthony Elanga was quickly shot down.

It means Eddie Howe does not have a significantly stronger squad to play with this season. Given the fact he’s reportedly been warned by PIF that things need to improve after a difficult campaign last time out, that feels particularly unfair on the manager.

Another player who was long linked with a move to St James’ Park was James Trafford. Even back in May, he was being touted as a target.

The Burnley goalkeeper, hailed as “outstanding” by Anthony Gordon during their time together with the England U21s last summer, again emerged as a target towards the closing stages of the window.

Like everything this summer it seems, however, the pursuit will likely end in disappointment.

James Trafford set to stay at Burnley this summer

Indeed, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri on social media platform X, Trafford looks set to stay at Turf Moor.

Newcastle didn’t need James Trafford – but not signing him sums up this window

Signing a goalkeeper, despite the fact he’s been tipped to reach the top, would not have answered Newcastle’s problems on deadline day – given how many players in that position Howe already has in his squad.

However, failing to get a deal over the line sums up this window. It’s been months of updates on players who perhaps do not set the pulses racing, only for them not to end up coming to the club anyway.

It would be foolish to suggest signing Trafford would significantly have improved Newcastle’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League but not landing him is just the latest disappointment in a truly underwhelming transfer window.