Exclusive: What Don Goodman has said about Burnley keeping both James Trafford and Maxime Esteve | OneFootball

Goodman has backed the Clarets to keep hold of two of their star men this summer

Former footballer and current Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has backed Burnley to keep hold of both James Trafford and Maxime Esteve in the summer transfer window if they are able to seal promotion to the Premier League this season.

The Clarets have taken huge steps towards their goal of automatic promotion in recent weeks, but they will need to go up to have any chance of keeping key men like both Trafford and Esteve, who have each been some of the best players in their respective positions in the Championship so far this term.

Trafford struggled last term as the Clarets endured a dismal campaign in the top-flight, but has bounced back in the second-tier this season to be at the forefront of their promotion charge under Scott Parker, thus attracting transfer interest from Premier League sides ahead of this summer.

Esteve, meanwhile, produced some impressive performances in the Premier League last season, and he has improved even further this time around to play a key role in their bid to return to the top-flight. The Frenchman has also garnered attention from higher-placed clubs with the transfer window on the horizon.

Don Goodman offers 'always a chance' verdict on Burnley's hopes of keeping Trafford and Esteve

England youth international Trafford joined Burnley from Manchester City in 2023 for an initial £15 million, after failing to make a senior appearance for his boyhood club, following impressive loan spells at both Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers that saw him become one of the most in-demand shot-stoppers in the EFL.

22-year-old Esteve first joined the Clarets on loan from Ligue 1 outfit Montpellier in January 2024, and played 16 times in the Premier League upon his arrival last season, before he was confirmed as a permanent Burnley player last May for a reported €15m.

Both players have been absolutely vital to Scott Parker's side and their success this season, but the job is not done yet, and they need to finish the campaign strongly to seal an immediate return to the Premier League in the coming weeks.

Sky Sports co-commentator and pundit Don Goodman has backed Burnley to be able to keep hold of both Trafford and Esteve this summer if they do go up to the top-flight, and he believes that the team spirit built by Parker could be a contributing factor to each of them staying at the club past this season.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said: “I think there is always a chance of keeping players when you’re successful.

“Burnley, if they do end up getting promoted to the Premier League, we’ve seen the camaraderie, the team spirit within that building, and that would give them a better chance of keeping players like James Trafford and Maxime Esteve in the summer.

“They have excelled, as have CJ Egan-Riley and several other Burnley players.

“Keeping both of them…hard to know at this stage really, but obviously they’ll have a better chance if they’re a Premier League team.

“When a goalkeeper plays 41 games, keeps 28 clean sheets and only concedes 13 goals, your ears are going to prick up. His goals prevented numbers are massive,

“And every time you watch Maxime Esteve, you just see a Rolls Royce of a defender.

“Two cracking players. Burnley will be hoping that they’ll be with them in the Premier League next season.”

Burnley need promotion to keep Trafford and Esteve - they have been heavily linked away

Trafford's outstanding form in the Championship has recently been recognised by the EFL, after he was nominated to win the Championship Player of the Season award alongside Sheffield United's Gus Hamer and Leeds United's Dan James.

The 22-year-old was also named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad last month, and it is clear that he is destined for a long-term future at the highest level of the game. Newcastle United have long been mooted with interest in his services, and they were claimed to have agreed on a £16m deal to sign him ahead of this season, before the deal collapsed, and he remained at Turf Moor.

Fabrizio Romano has previously stated that the verbal pact between the two clubs and Trafford still stands to this day, but Burnley are set to demand at least £30m for his signature this summer, with Manchester United also believed to be interested in a move.

Esteve has also understandably been linked with a move away from Turf Moor this summer, with his performances arguably also worthy of a nomination for the second-tier's Player of the Season trophy. The 22-year-old has barely missed a minute of league action for Parker's side this season, and has made the Championship look all too easy at times up to now.

Premier League outfit Everton have reportedly made his signing a priority ahead of the summer transfer window, with West Ham and Wolves both also previously linked with a move.

Italian giants AC Milan are also thought to have him on their radar, while Tottenham Hotspur reportedly submitted a £20m bid to prise him from Turf Moor late in the January window, but had their advances rejected, with Burnley believed to be holding out for closer to £30m.

It is clear that clubs will be circling for both Trafford and Esteve following the end of this season, and the Clarets will seemingly have very little chance of retaining their services if they fail to win promotion in the weeks to come. Burnley will hope to return to the Premier League, though, and that factor may well persuade both, or at least one, of their key men to stick around for at least another year.