Burnley FC: James Trafford’s Sunderland heroics will be bitter-sweet for Newcastle United | OneFootball

James Trafford's two penalty saves against Sunderland had positive and negative implications for Newcastle

On the face of it, Burnley's 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Friday night sounds like something of a non-event, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

A dramatic game between two automatic promotion front-runners turned out to be full of drama, with the Black Cats missing two late penalties to squander a huge chance to get one over on a direct rival.

Claiming those penalties were missed perhaps does a disservice to Burnley's hero of the hour, James Trafford, who saved both of Wilson Isidor's spot-kicks to spare his side's blushes and ensure they weren't leapfrogged by Sunderland.

Trafford has been the subject of intense transfer speculation since the East Lancashire outfit were relegated to the Championship, with Newcastle United the side most widely touted to make a move for the England international.

But up to now, he's remained at Burnley as the club haven't had an offer they felt fitting enough to make them part with a man who they spent roughly £19m on in the summer of 2023.

With Newcastle and Sunderland widely being regarded as fierce rivals, those of a Geordie persuasion would've been delighted to see Trafford pull off the heroics he did on Friday night.

Sunderland haven't played in the Premier League since 2016/17, and although plenty of Newcastle fans would love the event of a Tyne-Wear derby in the top-flight they're also enjoying seeing their near neighbours stagnate in the Championship.

They'll be a little twitchy that may not be the case for too much longer as Sunderland are making strides under Regis Le Bris, but Trafford's double penalty save on Friday night could prove to be crushing psychological blow for them in their quest to get back to the Premier League.

For Toon fans, it provided them a glimpse of what they could be seeing in the not-too-distant future if they can thrash out a deal for Trafford, but with Burnley in the thick of the promotion race themselves, it's believed any deal will have to be done in the summer.

By that point, Burnley themselves could be a Premier League club, and that has the potential to scupper any deal, so Friday night's antics, although funny for those of a Newcastle persuasion, may not be as positive as they first seemed.

Newcastle could be looking at upwards of £30m to land James Trafford amid recent Burnley exploits

Trafford is having the season of his life at Burnley, and is an integral part of a back line which has broken a second-tier record for the least goals conceded at this stage of a season.

Burnley's defensive unit is that good in fact, that it ranks among the best in the history of football, and Trafford has been a key component, so the Clarets won't be keen to lose him on the cheap.

After investing heavily in Trafford 18 months ago, Burnley will undoubtedly want to see a big return on investment should they sell in the summer, and Friday night's evidence was further proof that the £20m Newcastle could reportedly have landed him for in the summer will no longer stand.

Everton spent the best part of £30m to land Jordan Pickford back in 2017 after he impressed in the Championship with Preston and then followed it up in the Premier League, so there will be a feeling that Trafford has to be worth a similar kind of fee.

English tax will undoubtedly play a part in bumping up his fee, as will his heroics of Friday night, which proved that he can bail you out of a hole, so Newcastle may be left to rue their decision not to spend £20m last summer when Burnley's asking price no doubt goes through the roof this summer.