Newcastle United are working on two separate fronts to solve their goalkeeping situation this summer, holding talks over Brighton's Rushworth while continuing a long-running pursuit of Manchester City's Trafford, with the club wanting just one of the pair to emerge as their first-choice option between the posts.
Rushworth spent last season on loan at Coventry City and is attracting firm interest from Newcastle, who have already seen two offers of more than £20m for the 25-year-old turned down.
He is keen to keep playing regular first-team football, which has made him a realistic target given the uncertainty over his path back into Brighton's own plans. Trafford, meanwhile, represents a more expensive but more proven option: Newcastle have tried and failed twice before to sign the England international, and the club revisited him as their top choice as recently as April.
Serving as understudy to Gianluigi Donnarumma at Manchester City, Trafford would cost around £30m, a price tag that makes completing a deal for him considerably harder than for Rushworth.
Newcastle have already made one addition between the posts this summer, paying around £20m for 20-year-old France prospect Ewen Jaouen, while 34-year-old Nick Pope remains their current first-choice goalkeeper. Pope's long-term future at St James' Park could hinge on whichever of Rushworth or Trafford eventually arrives, with his exit becoming more likely once Newcastle land their preferred target.
Elsewhere in the club's business this summer, midfielder Joe White has left Newcastle to join League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a permanent two-year deal.
The 23-year-old, who has spent his entire career with the Magpies after coming through their Under-21 side, previously spent the first half of the 2023-24 season on loan at Crewe, scoring three goals in 25 appearances during that spell. He has since had further loan spells in the English Football League with MK Dons, Leyton Orient and Bradford City, but made only four Premier League appearances as a substitute for Newcastle, all of them coming in April 2024, before this summer's permanent departure.