Newcastle appear to have accepted defeat in their two-year pursuit of James Trafford with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola exercising a 'matching clause' in the goalkeeper's Burnley contract.
Trafford is expected to return to the Etihad Stadium imminently, where he came through the club's academy setup before joining the Clarets in 2023, in a reported £27 million transfer. The 22-year-old was a long-time target for Howe and the Newcastle hierarchy, with personal terms rumoured to have been agreed as far back as 12 months ago.
