‘Said yes’ – Newcastle United ‘expected’ to sign England international as bid submitted
Newcastle United Turn Focus to Aaron Ramsdale After Missing Out on Trafford Deal
Newcastle United have shifted their focus in the transfer market to Southampton and England international Aaron Ramsdale, after their long pursuit of Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford ended in disappointment.
The Magpies had made Trafford their primary goalkeeping target for over a year, hoping to bring the talented 22-year-old to St James’ Park as part of their long-term project. Newcastle were first close to landing Trafford in the summer of 2023, but the move fell through after the club had to prioritize a financial arrangement involving Nottingham Forest, in which Greek international Odysseas Vlachodimos was signed instead. That swap deal, orchestrated largely due to Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) compliance, saw Elliot Anderson depart for the City Ground.
Despite that setback, Newcastle reignited talks with Burnley earlier this summer, and for a time looked set to finally secure Trafford’s services. A fee in the region of £27 million was agreed between the clubs. However, Manchester City, who sold Trafford to Burnley last year, still held several contractual advantages in the deal — including a £40 million buy-back clause, a 20% sell-on fee, and a lesser-known clause allowing them to match any accepted offer.
Once City were alerted to Newcastle’s accepted bid, they wasted no time in exercising their matching rights. Trafford is now poised to return to the Etihad Stadium, where he will reportedly undergo a medical in the coming days ahead of signing a new five-year contract, with an option for a further year. Pep Guardiola is believed to be impressed with the progress Trafford made at Burnley, and the City boss sees him as a valuable addition to his long-term plans.
Attention Turns to Ramsdale Reunion
With Trafford now off the table, Newcastle have quickly turned to a familiar face. According to The Athletic, the Magpies have launched a move for Aaron Ramsdale, who currently plays for Southampton. Ramsdale previously worked under Eddie Howe and his coaching team during their time together at AFC Bournemouth, and the England international has long been admired by Howe for his mentality, athleticism, and distribution.
NewcastleWorld had already reported back in May that Ramsdale was on Newcastle’s radar, and it now appears those links have solidified into a formal approach. The club has submitted an offer structured as an initial loan with an obligation to buy. While Southampton would ideally prefer a permanent sale, they are reportedly open to a loan move—provided it comes with a significant loan fee and full salary coverage.
Renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the move is progressing, revealing that Ramsdale has already given the green light to the switch. Writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Romano stated:
> “Aaron Ramsdale already said yes to Newcastle and official bid has been sent to Southampton. High loan fee, salary covered and buy option clause. Southampton open to accepting but want higher fee. Deal expected to happen.”
If completed, the move would mark a major step forward in Newcastle’s efforts to modernize their goalkeeping setup and align it more closely with the tactical demands of the Premier League’s top teams.
Current Goalkeeping Situation at St James’ Park
Nick Pope remains Newcastle’s current first-choice goalkeeper and is held in high regard by both fans and coaching staff for his shot-stopping prowess. However, there is a growing understanding within the club that Pope’s limitations when it comes to playing out from the back are a barrier to evolving the team’s style of play — particularly as Howe seeks to implement a more possession-based system.
Despite the desire to bring in another top-level goalkeeper, Newcastle are not actively seeking to part ways with Pope. The 33-year-old has attracted interest this summer, most notably from Leeds United, but the Magpies see him as a valuable squad member moving forward.
Behind Pope, the depth chart remains crowded. Martin Dubravka came close to a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in January, but ultimately stayed and signed a new contract after impressing during Pope’s injury absence. He remains a dependable backup option, though his future could be reconsidered if Ramsdale joins.
Odysseas Vlachodimos, meanwhile, is expected to leave on loan after a brief and largely uneventful stint. The Greek shot-stopper has not cemented his place and now finds himself on the fringes.
Veterans John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie are primarily utilized as experienced training ground keepers and mentors, providing cover when needed but unlikely to feature in competitive fixtures. In contrast, promising 20-year-old Max Thompson has been included in the squad for the club’s pre-season tour in South Korea, and is viewed as one for the future.
What Comes Next?
While Newcastle have experienced a frustrating summer window in several areas of the pitch — missing out on multiple top attacking targets — their pursuit of a modern, ball-playing goalkeeper has remained a consistent theme. Securing Ramsdale would not only fill that technical gap but also reunite Howe with a player he knows and trusts.
The next few days will be crucial as negotiations with Southampton continue. The Saints’ willingness to accept the loan-to-buy structure could determine how quickly the deal progresses, but with Ramsdale reportedly eager for a fresh start, all parties may be inclined to find a resolution.
For now, Newcastle fans will watch closely as the club continues to reshape its squad for the challenges ahead — both at home and on the European stage.