Reported summer Rangers target James Trafford is set to bank Man City a fortune after a fee was agreed for his transfer to Premier League newboys Burnley.
According to BBC Sport, Burnley could pay the Premier League champions up to £19m for James Trafford after the 20-year-old goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Bolton in English League One.
The number one choice for the England U21s, the Clarets will pay an initial £15m to sign the stopper with £4m in achievable add-ons should the move be a success.
The deal is also said to include a buy-back clause for Man City – similar to that one we had for Malik Tillman – in claims which highlight just how highly-rated the young stopper is.
This represents a substantial outlay for Vincent Kompany’s side and – as if we even need to say it – proves Rangers would’ve been priced out of a move had any interest been legitimate.
Rangers-linked James Trafford heading to Burnley
Rangers were heavily linked with a move to James Trafford at the turn of the year, with pre-Burnley talk about an Ibrox switch as the club hunted the long-term successor to Allan McGregor’s Ibrox throne.
Instead of plumping for the potential of James Trafford, even if we’re convinced Rangers couldn’t have competed with Burnley’s spending, Rangers opted for experience over hype in the position this summer.
Signing former England international Jack Butland after his contract expired at Crystal Palace and a loan stint at Man United came to an end, Rangers look to have made a shrewd signing in the 30-year-old.
Still young in goalkeeping years, Jack Butland has been without a consistent number one shot for the last few seasons and has a point to prove after being the Burnley-bound James Trafford of yesteryear.
Should Rangers get the Jack Butland who was once touted for the very top with England then they may well have saved themselves a fortune given the eye-watering money attached to the Man City alternative.
