Man Utd's surprise link to Championship goalkeeper

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 22 Nov 2024 08:40 GMT
6 min read

Manchester United are on the hunt for a goalkeeper to deputise Andre Onana - and they might have found one in the Championship.

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Burnley's James Trafford is thought to be of interest, according to The Muppetiers, who spoke on his YouTube channel.

Trafford has been key to Burnley’s incredible defensive record in the Championship this season - so far he has kept eight clean sheets in 14 matches, with only six goals conceded all year.

"United have been talking to people about goalkeepers. It's an interesting one. They were talking to people about James Trafford, who's very likely moving to Newcastle.

"It's not necessarily to displace Onana. But to potentially move to get a backup. I don't know what that says or if there is an interest. But yes, they are looking at that position. They kind of checking on this.

The 22-year-old started his football career in Manchester City, where he developed as a ball-playing goalkeeper. In 2023, he moved to Burnley in a €17.3 million deal, making him the third-most expensive English goalkeeper ever behind Everton's Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale of Southampton.

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Trafford’s defining moment came in 2023 with the England Under-21s, when he played a crucial role in their European Championship win. During the competition, he kept six clean sheets in six games of the tournament.

Trafford was linked with a move to Newcastle last season but no offer was forthcoming.

Onana at Man Utd

Onana joined the Old Trafford club from Inter for €51 million - plus €4m in bonuses - in the 2023 summer window.

The 28-year-old had enjoyed an outstanding Champions League season with the Nerazzurri the season prior, playing a key role in their run to the Champions League final.

He kept more clean sheets than anyone in the tournament, including five in the knockout rounds, as Inter narrowly lost 1-0 to Man City in the showpiece in June. He was also heralded as the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet.

However, his debut season was marred with mistakes. He also made a host of costly errors, most notably in the Champions League defeats to Galatasaray and Bayern Munich. It was a wild inaugural term for the Cameroon international, but this campaign and last, he has started to find his feet and settle in, even justifying his hefty price tag.