BLUE READY? Chelsea ready to make shock £20m transfer bid for England U21 goalkeeper as they seek permanent No1
Another Premier League club are also interested
Posted Sunday, May 26, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk
CHELSEA are ready to make a £20million bid for Burnley keeper and England hopeful James Trafford.
The Stamford Bridge club see Trafford as a long-term No 1 despite a bumpy start to his Premier League career at Turf Moor.
Chelsea are eyeing a move for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford this summer Credit: Getty
Many feel the stopper will come good even though he was dropped by Vincent Kompany before the Clarets slipped out of the top flight.
Trafford, 21, is in the initial 33-man England squad for Euro 2024 and looks set to be thrown a Premier League lifeline.
Chelsea want to sign future stars and Trafford is in that category.
He joined Burnley from Manchester City for £15m last summer following his Young Lions heroics — not conceding a single goal as England won the Under-21 Euros.
Newcastle fancy Trafford but sources close to the deal see Chelsea winning the race and Burnley will be happy to make a profit within 12 months.
The young keeper made 28 appearances for the Clarets last season, keeping two clean sheets.
Meanwhile, Chelsea stoppers Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic made 21 and 31 appearances across all competitions respectively.
The Blues are currently without a manager, though, following Mauricio Pochettino's exit this week.
Pochettino was sacked after guiding Chelsea to a sixth place finish and a return to Europe in his only season in charge.
His replacement has yet to be appointed, with the club linked with a number of potential candidates.
According to reports, Chelsea have identified Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and Enzo Maresca as managerial targets.
The club have even held talks with Leicester boss Maresca as they look to announce Pochettino's replacement next week.
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