Journalist now claims Newcastle United will definitely sign James Trafford this summer

As Martin Dubravka signs a new contract at Newcastle United, a report surfaces saying that the Magpies will sign another stopper this summer.

As things stand, Newcastle are over-stocked on goalkeepers, with five in the first-team squad. Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka are currently duking it out for the number one spot while £20 million summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos sits, we think, in third spot.

37-year-old summer arrival John Ruddy backs him up, although he has appeared on the bench ahead of the Greek international a couple of times this season.

Completing the set is Geordie boy Mark Gillespie, the sentient training dummy.

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Newcastle look set to sign James Trafford this summer

Gillespie, Ruddy and Vlachodimos all have contracts expiring in the summer, however, and we're not sure which, if any, will be offered new deals, so the fact that Craig Hope is now saying that James Trafford will come to Newcastle in the summer makes sense.

In his Newcastle Confidential column for the Daily Mail, Hope says he expects that the transfer of James Trafford from Burnley is expected to go through without a hitch in the summer.

"The Burnley goalkeeper had agreed to join last August only for the deal not to happen, much to the surprise and disappointment of some of those involved.

"However, sources have expressed extreme confidence this week of the transfer going through at the end of this season, with Trafford still set on St James’ Park."

Will James Trafford come in as first-choice stopper?

The question that immediately comes to mind now is: Who will be number one come next season?

As things stand, Nick Pope is number one by definition, Dubravka is number one by squad number. The Slovakian is currently preferred as the Premier League starter over the England international. The addition of a young first-team-ready 'keeper in the summer is really going to spice things up.

Trafford has impressed for Burnley this season after losing his place for a while, and on current form, he will be pushing Newcastle's current 'keepers for that starting spot.