The perfect Newcastle United and Burnley swap transfer deal that would make total sense for both clubs

Newcastle United are facing up to a number of awkward situations in the transfer market. The Magpies continue to wrestle with Financial Fair Play regulations as the January transfer window reaches its final week and, as it stands, there have been no major departures or new additions from St. James' Park.

Speculation regarding the future of Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier continues to dominate the headlines - although Bayern Munich’s interest in the latter of that quartet is reportedly set to be withdrawn as the Magpies continue to insist they will not allow the England defender to leave the club during the current transfer window.

Although much of the focus remains on what may or may not happen over the next seven days, there is one major challenge facing the Magpies decision makers at the end of the season. Despite the long-term shoulder injury he suffered in December’s 1-0 home win against Manchester United, Nick Pope remains Eddie Howe’s first-choice goalkeeper - but there are question marks over the men that provide backup for the England stopper.

Martin Dubravka has stepped into the breech left by Pope’s injury and, after some initial uncertainty, has started to get back towards the level he showed during the early months of his time on Tyneside. Yet with Pope set to return at the start of next season, the Slovakia international is facing a major decision over his long-term future as he heads into the final year of his contract at St. James' Park.

Speaking of what the future could hold for his client, Dubravka’s agent David Zika admitted he ‘wouldn’t rule out’ looking for a new club at the end of the season - but also revealed he would expect a new contract offer from Newcastle.

Speaking to i and Sport.SK, he said: “I dare say that he will finish this season in Newcastle. I personally think, and we talked about it with Martin, that now he has excellent ‘timing’ for everything. He’s playing, he’s getting better and better in every game and then the European Championships will come and he’ll only have a year left on his contract. If he plays well in the Euros in Germany, he can get into an excellent position. I can imagine that Newcastle will offer him a contract extension for a year or two. In England, goalkeepers mature like wine and their loyalty is viewed very positively. However, we wouldn’t rule out that he will want to look somewhere else.”

The situation surrounding the goalkeeper situation is further clouded by the fact Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie will currently in the final six months of the one-year contract they penned last summer and, as it stands, are set to depart Newcastle at the end of the season. That would leave Pope and Dubravka as the Magpies only senior stoppers - and although there are high hopes for young keepers Aidan Harris and Max Thompson, there will be a need for at least one goalkeeper to be added to Howe’s ranks ahead of next season.

With Pope now 31 and Dubravka celebrating his 35th birthday last week, there could be a desire to bring in a long-term option to challenge for the number one shirt at St. James' Park - and that could mean Newcastle considering being creative in the transfer market to maximise the potential impact of a deal. With apologies to Burnley supporters, in the event of a possible relegation into the Championship current a very real possibility, the Magpies could produce something of a double hit by making a move for England Under-21 goalkeeper James Trafford and offering two proven Championship players in exchange to reduce their own wage bill.

Despite being sent out on loan in recent months, winger Ryan Fraser and midfielder Isaac Hayden still have time left on their contracts at St. James' Park. Fraser is currently in the final 18 months of his deal as he enjoys helping Southampton in their bid to return to the Premier League and Hayden is still contracted until the summer of 2026 and is currently attracting interest from clubs in the second tier after returning from a loan stint with Belgian club Standard Liege.

Despite conceding an average of two goals a game in the Premier League this season and only keeping two clean sheets, Trafford would still command a sizeable transfer fee if the Magpies were to make a move for his services. Although Hayden and Fraser are unlikely to significantly reduce such a fee if they were to be offered to Burnley, their departure would at least trim United’s wage bill and offer the Clarets two players with experience of helping a club return to the top tier at the first attempt.

It should be said, Trafford remains under contract at Turf Moor until the summer of 2027 and any such move would depend on Burnley being unsuccessful in their bid to preserve their top flight status. Should that come to pass, Newcastle would be foolish not to make a move for a highly-talented young stopper that can help solve what feels like a major issue for their own options between the sticks.