Chelsea are considering a move for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford following the Clarets' relegation from the Premier League, according to reports.
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to The Sun, Trafford has emerged as a top target for Chelsea this summer despite the tough start to his career in the top flight of English football. The Blues reportedly view the 21-year-old as a long-term option at Stamford Bridge and could provide him with a route back into the Premier League after he suffered relegation with Burnley in the 2023-24 season.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Trafford started 28 of the 38 fixtures in the league season but was dropped for the last 10 by Vincent Kompany as his side fought to avoid relegation. Despite the tough end to the campaign, Chelsea are eager to sign promising young stars and view Trafford as a viable option. Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in the player, although sources close to the deal have claimed that Chelsea are current favourites to secure the signing.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Trafford could be linking up with his former team-mate Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge, after the two rose through the ranks at Manchester City before moving elsewhere.
"Wow. He's so good. You could see it in the academy," said Palmer to the BBC. "Even in training, he's so hard to score past. I'm just glad everyone else is seeing it. "He knows himself how good he is but he's not arrogant. He's a nice lad. He's a normal lad who believes in himself. When he first came, everyone was thinking: 'Who's this kid?' As time went on, everyone was looking at each other, like: 'Wow'. He just goes about his business on his own. I always say to him - even when we were little - that he is going to be world class."
WHAT NEXT FOR TRAFFORD?
As Chelsea are currently without a first-team manager following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, Trafford will likely have to wait to determine his plans ahead of next season. For now, he will concentrate on making Gareth Southgate's 26-man England squad for Euro 2024, after being included in the preliminary team announcement last week.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
