Lloyd Kelly has said yes to joining Newcastle United, and the Magpies are hoping another player will do exactly the same very soon.
The Magpies look set to make their first signing of the summer, with Lloyd Kelly agreeing a deal with Newcastle United. He is due to arrive on a free transfer, and has been undergoing a medical on Tyneside on Wednesday.
Getting Kelly on a free is excellent business, and it will mean that the club has more money to spend elsewhere. Eddie Howe is looking to make four more signings after the 25-year-old arrives, one of which is a goalkeeper.
After initially wanting to bring in Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Magpies have now decided to make a move for Burnley’s James Trafford.
He appears to be Newcastle’s priority, with Howe aiming to provide Nick Pope with stronger backup – and maybe even a bit of competition.
How James Trafford feels about signing for Newcastle United
While a deal is yet to be agreed with Burnley, it appears that everything is heading in the right direction.
That is according to the Northern Echo, who report that Newcastle’s talks with the Clarets have been ‘productive’.
They report that Burnley are looking for a fee of more than £20million, although Toon officials are confident that they can get the player they want for less than that amount.
The Northern Echo also provide another key factor, stating that Trafford is keen on a move to St James’ Park this summer.
Newcastle move is an incredible opportunity for Trafford
That is no surprise, as it is a really good opportunity for him on the back of what was a challenging season.
Trafford did not perform well in the Premier League, and was actually dropped from the Burnley starting XI before their relegation to the Championship was confirmed.
That has resulted in some Toon fans questioning the club’s decision to pursue the 21-year-old, but he is certainly a player with a lot of potential. He proved that at the European Under-21 Championship last summer, with his ‘outstanding‘ performances helping England go all the way.
He certainly has the tools to go to the top, which is exactly where Newcastle United want to go. A deal for Trafford would suggest that they believe he can be their number one in the future, which must be a real confidence boost for Trafford given the Magpies’ desire to compete in the Champions League and challenge for honours.
After the lows of relegation, Trafford has the opportunity to bounce straight back up to the Premier League and sign for a club that is in the middle of trying to achieve something special. He could end up being a big part of that, so it is no surprise that he fancies a move to the North East.
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