Burnley player on Brighton transfer radar amid surprise Real Madrid interest | OneFootball

Should Verbruggen opt for Madrid, Brighton have identified James Trafford as a prime target to step into their number one shirt.

Brighton & Hove Albion are planning to prepare for life after Bart Verbruggen, with Burnley’s James Trafford emerging as a leading candidate to replace the Dutchman should he make a shock switch to Real Madrid this summer.

According to Alan Nixon, the Seagulls’ first-choice stopper Verbruggen has become the subject of surprise interest from the Spanish giants, who are seeking a long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois, with current back-up Andriy Lunin potentially being offloaded.

Brighton would be keen to resolve the situation swiftly, with the club eager to avoid being left short between the sticks ahead of the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign, and they have one of the Championship's best players of 2024-25 on their radar as a potential replacement for the Dutchman.

Burnley stopper James Trafford on Brighton wishlist in case of Bart Verbruggen exit

According to a report from journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, Brighton are keen on Trafford should the worst happen and a deal for Verbruggen to land at the Santiago Bernabeu comes off.

The 22-year-old Burnley stopper has enjoyed a remarkable campaign under Scott Parker's management, helping the Clarets secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Trafford, who joined Burnley from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 for a reported £19 million, has been nothing short of sensational this past season, after enduring a tough Premier League campaign the year prior.

The England under-21's international has kept an impressive 29 clean sheets in the Championship this term, while conceding just 16 goals throughout the entire campaign.

His performances earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Season at the recent EFL Awards and he narrowly missed out on the Player of the Season award, with Burnley manager Scott Parker describing him as "world-class" for his contributions to the club's promotion push.

Brighton are said to have been keeping a close eye on Trafford's progress for a while now.

The 6ft 6in goalkeeper's commanding presence and remarkable shot-stopping abilities have caught the eye of several Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United having bids rejected last summer.

Trafford, who was called up to Thomas Tuchel's first senior England squad earlier this year, has demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout his first full Championship campaign.

His 87.5 percent save ratio and 9.67 expected goals prevented put him among the elite performers in the second tier, and he was part of a side that conceded just 15 times in the Championship - the previous record was held by both Watford and Preston North End, who leaked 30 goals in their respective record-breaking campaigns

Brighton may not be the step up that James Trafford desires

Brighton's pursuit of Trafford hinges entirely on what happens with Verbruggen and Real Madrid's interest.

The Spanish giants are reportedly ready to ask the "big question" to determine if the Dutch keeper fancies a move to the Bernabeu, despite initially having to serve as backup to Courtois.

However, Brighton - whilst they have adopted a successful transfer model in recent years - would probably have to pay at least £40 million for Trafford's services, and they may not be seen as the big step up by the goalkeeper himself that he will probably make in the future.

You can see him keeping goal for a club that are a top European outfit within the next few years, such is his ability and potential, and whilst Brighton could be a good stepping stone towards that, Burnley's current number one may have more ambitious sights set.