Man City have a new transfer priority with £40million deal close
It wasn’t meant to be like this for James Trafford. On this day (July 29) a year ago he joined Manchester City on a five-year deal with the aim of being Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper. 12 months on and the 23-year-old is close to wrapping up a £40million move to Leeds United.
“I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be,” said Trafford after signing for the Blues in 2025.
Within a matter of weeks Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from PSG fresh from winning the Champions League and Trafford found himself relegated to second choice. He contributed plenty to the City cause last season and was instrumental in the Blues winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
But the former Burnley keeper has international ambitions and knew that he needed to be first choice if he is to one day become England’s No.1. His move to Elland Road is expected to be confirmed imminently and it leaves City with a requirement to find another senior keeper to compete with Donnarumma.
The Blues have signed former academy star Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £10million, but he has joined QPR on loan in the Championship.
Young prospect Oliver Whatmuff is highly thought of and starred on loan at Rochdale in the National League last season as the Spotland outfit won promotion via the play-offs. And while he is part of City’s pre-season tour squad in Asia, he has agreed a loan switch to League One side Stockport County.
City do have Marcus Bettinelli in the ranks with the 34-year-old having joined from Chelsea a year ago. But he is expected to once again be third choice, meaning Enzo Maresca will be in the market for a new keeper.
