Newcastle United target James Trafford speaks about his form after being included in EFL Championship Team of Season

Newcastle United and James Trafford have been strongly linked since last summer with some reports going as far as to say the deal is done.

Those reports have since been refuted by more credible sources, but the link remains strong with some journalists, including Fabrizio Romano, still convinced that there's a verbal agreement between the two parties over a summer move.

A fee of £20 million has been mooted for the Burnley keeper, but after the season he's had, we'd be surprised if Burnley, who also gained promotion back to the Premier League, don't make life very difficult for the Magpies.

£20 million for such a young 'keeper is still a hefty price tag, but the 22-year-old has had such an outstanding season, we can see Burnley pushing for more in a bid to try and keep him at Turf Moor.

James Trafford's interview with BBC Sport could read a wee bit cocky

It's hardly a surprise that James Trafford was picked in the Championship Team of the Season at the EFL awards. It certainly wasn't a surprise to him as he told BBC Sport.

"Every year throughout my professional career I've tried to improve my game and myself and luckily this year there's a lot of stats that indicate I have.

"But last season I improved so much and the season before, so it's not a surprise that I've done well this season and improved because every day I try to get better.

"It's just that everyone is seeing the numbers and stats that show that."

James Trafford has earned the right to sound so cocky

That seems perhaps a bit cocky from the lad, but we kind of like it, and to be fair, with 29 clean sheets in 44 games and only conceding 15 goals, who can blame him?

There are still a few Newcastle United fans on the fence about Trafford, but there's no arguing with those numbers, even if it is in the Championship.

If we can pick him up for £20 million, we could end up with one of the best goalkeepers in the world in a few years, and we could have him for a long time too. It seems like a no-brainer of a deal.