Punchy James Trafford demand revealed as Burnley FC face Newcastle United transfer pursuit | OneFootball

Reports have confirmed what will have to be paid if Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is to leave this summer.

Reports have confirmed the demands of James Trafford, if the Burnley FC goalkeeper is to leave Turf Moor this summer.

The 22-year-old is much in demand at the end of a season during which Burnley set an astonishing record of conceding just 16 goals in 46 games, the least ever conceded by a club in a 46-game League season in this country.

Newcastle United could be in for another bid - wages hurdle may loom

Newcastle United have bid for him before. The Magpies made a £16 million bid for Trafford last summer, which was rejected by his club.

Burnley's original valuation for the goalkeeper was reported to have been £20m, but there seems little doubt that this figure will have increased since then. The Sun subsequently reported that the Clarets had upped their valuation of him to £30m.

According to reports from the Newcastle Chronicle, Trafford has several requirements if he is to leave Burnley this summer. They report that the goalkeeper is only interested in moving to a club where he will be guaranteed to be the first choice goalkeeper, rather than being an understudy or reserve for this.

They also claim that he will be looking for an increase in his wages to somewhere in the region of £100,000 a week, a substantial increase on the £40,000 estimated by Salary Sport as his current wage at Turf Moor.

Burnley's outstanding defensive record

Burnley's outstanding defensive performance in the Championship this season, during which the goalkeeper kept 29 clean sheets, is the biggest single reason for the increase in his transfer value.

He was the EFL PLayer of the Month for January 2025, while also winning their Golden Glove award for this season and being listed as the goalkeeper in their Team of the Season.

These are realistic demands for a goalkeeper with so much promise

Trafford has been considered a strong contender to end up as the England first-choice goalkeeper, so these are hardly outlandish demands. He already has 19 caps for the England under-21s, and regular Premier League football may push him into the thoughts of the national team manager, Thomas Tuchel.

At the moment, the England first-choice goalkeeper remains Everton's Jordan Pickford, but while Pickford isn't likely to be dislodged from that position just yet, he is now 31 years of age, and while there's no immediate rush for a replacement, there will be a need in several seasons' time. The promise that Trafford has shown during the 2024/25 season indicates that he could be just the man for this job.

Burnley would definitely miss Trafford, should he leave

For a club the size of Burnley, there is always a risk of a player of this quality leaving, and both fans and manager Scott Parker would surely be hugely disappointed should he choose to try his luck in the Premier League elsewhere.

But the appeal of such a move to the player himself should be clear. A vast increase in wages and regular football at a far bigger club will always appeal, and increased visibility, which could lead to greater involvement with the national team, would be a welcome bonus.

Everybody at Burnley would be disappointed to see him leave, but the reasons why such a move might appeal to him aren't difficult to understand.