Newcastle United failed to secure European football for next season.
Only 12 months ago, the club was celebrating returning to the big time after Eddie Howe guided them back to the Champions League.
But despite finishing seventh during an injury-ravaged season, which usually means Conference League, Manchester United’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City dropped Newcastle out of Europe altogether.
Profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP) are probably words Newcastle fans really hate because it is stopping them from really putting their foot down in the transfer market under their Saudi-led ownership.
And you just wonder how much of that, added with no European football, plays a part in the club’s summer transfer recruitment.
What’s interesting is that if you asked the Newcastle supporters what areas of the pitch they might need to bolster, the first thing they would probably put forward is centre-back, especially with the long-term injuries to Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
But it seems as though Newcastle are going to bring in another goalkeeper, with Tony Cascarino certain that James Trafford, who missed out on England’s Euro 2024 squad alongside Nick Pope, will move from Burnley.
The 21-year-old was relegated with the Clarets this season and dropped to the bench by his now-departed manager Vincent Kompany.
But Cascarino feels he ‘largely had a really good season’ and he is an upgrade on Pope, in regards to playing out from the back, as he told talkSPORT (09/06/24 at 8:05 am).
James Trafford to join Newcastle United?
“Well, look, Nick Pope had a terrible season with injury last year, didn’t he? They have other keepers there and obviously they have lost other goalkeepers, Woodman left, didn’t he, a few years back?” said Cascarino.
“It’s one of them transfers that you are bolstering your squad. Now, will he challenge for the first-team spot? Probably, yes, but I think that’s what Eddie Howe would want, and between £15 and £20 million, if they are haggling over that, that will get over the line.
“He will definitely make that move. He had largely a really good season to a degree, as in the first few months of the season, he played really well. Then he made a number of mistakes, especially with his feet. Nick Pope is the opposite. He is not good with his feet, and he will probably be the first to admit that. He is a very reliable goalkeeper in doing the basics really well.”
James Trafford v Nick Pope
If this move happens, then it’s going to be interesting to see what Howe does with Pope, who missed large parts of the recently concluded campaign because of a shoulder injury.
Many think Pope, who also arrived from Burnley, is unlucky not to play for England at Euro 2024.
READ MORE: Newcastle told to pay £20m for top target as bid made, Arsenal man is alternative
But Mikel Arteta at Arsenal pushed out Aaron Ramsdale and replaced him with David Raya.
That was questioned at the time, but now that harsh, yet ruthless call has proven to be correct because Raya has been consistently outstanding.
Perhaps the same could happen with Pope because Newcastle surely aren’t putting good money on the table for a rising keeper just for him to watch on from the sidelines.
The post ‘Largely a really good season’: Tony Cascarino says 21-year-old will 'definitely make move' to Newcastle appeared first on HITC.
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