Manchester City confirm James Trafford decision as £40m Leeds United transfer edges closer | OneFootball

James Trafford has been omitted from Manchester City’s pre-season Asia tour squad, with a move to Leeds United edging closer.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Leeds are closing in on a £40m deal plus add-ons for the 23-year-old, a fee that would surpass the club-record £35.5m paid for Georginio Rutter in January 2023. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, though no agreement has been announced. The expectation is he will join this summer.

City have hinted that a decision is near. Enzo Maresca named a 28-man group for matches in Hong Kong and Seoul over the next week, and Trafford was not included.

Trafford is among a handful of first-team players still on their three-week post-World Cup break after travelling with England. Maresca has taken four goalkeepers, first-choice Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marcus Bettinelli and academy pair Max Chabot and Jack Wint.

Leeds want to complete the signing, with Trafford’s preference reportedly to join Daniel Farke’s side. The England international hopes to challenge Jordan Pickford for the No 1 shirt in time, but first needs regular club football.

At Elland Road, only Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns are currently in the senior goalkeeping group, after Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier left for Manchester United and Arsenal this summer. Once a first-choice arrives, Perri is expected to depart, with Torino heavily linked.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk