After Fraser's mistakes left Forster in midweek Tottenham Hotspur He held on to beat Manchester United 4-3 in the Carabao Cup, Angie Postecoglou He was reportedly given the green light to sign the £20million star in January.
Tottenham transfer news
A team capable of defeating Manchester City and Manchester United, but also the first team from which Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace have taken three points this season, Spurs have become impossible to predict, and not in a positive way. Postecoglou – a stickler for methods that can be construed as honorable or overly stubborn – has a guessing game on his hands almost every week as to what version of his team will be on display.
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By midweek, it was a mix of the Blazer version itself and one that was vulnerable to being shut down and making way for shock hits like the Lilywhites Won Manchester United 4-3 In the Carabao Cup. Having taken an impressive 3-0 lead, two Forster errors followed to allow United back into the game, before Spurs found a fourth and the Red Devils could only score a late consolation goal.
It appears that the goalkeeper's errors have forced the Lilywhites to turn their attention back towards the transfer market as well. According to the Mirror, Postecoglou has now been given the green light to sign a Premier League goalkeeper, with James Traffordwho estimates Burnley to be worth £20m before 2025, is a target.
The England international stayed at the Clarets despite numerous exit rumors last summer and could now receive a reward for his patience in the form of a January move to north London. Given that he is more than capable with the ball at his feet, Trafford could serve as Forster's upgrade to the second-in-command role behind Guglielmo Vicario.
'The athlete' Trafford could replace Forster
While Vicario is Tottenham's undisputed number one, his latest injury suggests Trafford will get a big chance to impress and offer Forster an upgrade over struggling Forster. At just 22 years old, it is not absurd to suggest that the England international could one day take over for the 28-year-old Vicario and become the starting goalkeeper for a top-six side.
It is the rise of Bolton's goalkeeper coach Matt Gilkes I saw it coming during Trafford's loan spell at the club, as he told Sky Sports in 2023: “When you've been in the game for 25 years, like me, you come across hundreds of goalkeepers and there are very few who really stand out, but James is definitely one of them.
“His athletic profile, the power he produces when he leaves, his reflexes. All the little details we look at are there.”
|
League statistics P90 24/25 (via FBref) |
James Trafford |
Fraser Forster |
|---|---|---|
|
It starts |
20 |
4 |
|
Save the percentage |
83.7% |
84% |
|
Save |
2.05 |
4.75 |
|
Passes attempted |
36.6 |
22.3 |
Most importantly, Trafford has maintained a similar impressive save ratio to Forster, but has stood out when asked to play with the ball at his feet, a trait that Postecoglou desperately needs goalkeepers to possess in abundance.