Manchester City want £30M for James Trafford after controversial interview | OneFootball

Manchester City will ask for £30 million to consider a permanent sale for academy graduate and second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, as per reports.

Having rejoined Manchester City from Burnley for £27 million in July 2025, Trafford was expecting to succeed Ederson as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper. However, things took a drastic turn on transfer deadline day.

The Sky Blues made a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day, after which everything changed for Trafford. Despite starting the first three games of the Premier League season for City, Donnarumma’s arrival instantly flipped the tables at the Etihad goalpost.

More than half a season later, the English international has mainly only started cup competitions post the Italian’s arrival. Keen on being in Thomas Tuchel’s XI for the FIFA World Cup this summer, Trafford prefers leaving for regular first-team football, as reported by TEAMtalk.

One of the motivating factors for the Englishman’s signing was also Newcastle United’s interest during his time at Burnley. City had included a buy-back clause in their sale of their academy graduate in 2023 – and it was activated when a rival was trying to get their hands on the talented goalkeeper.

The Magpies might again start a pursuit for Trafford as they might get a discount on the goalkeeper’s price this time around. Last summer, Newcastle were willing to pay a final fee of £31 million as the negotiations had started at £27 million.

With City believed to have set a £30 million asking price for Trafford ahead of the summer transfer window, Eddie Howe will effectively get a £1 million discount on the 23-year-old goalkeeper. Howe is in for competition, though, with the report further citing that Leeds United are the frontrunners when it comes to interest.

Ilan Meslier’s contract is expiring at the end of the season and a renewal isn’t expected following the Frenchman’s fall from grace at Elland Road. Lucas Perri is also having consistency issues and backup Karl Darlow is filling in for the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Sources mentioned in the article suggest that the Brazilian might be offloaded if the Whites don’t get relegated and find a decent replacement at the same time. Aston Villa are also in the race as Emiliano Martinez’s future looks unclear. Inter Milan contacted Martinez last month, but the rumours seemed to have cooled down due to a hefty price tag.

Trafford was open to leaving Manchester City on a permanent deal in January but Guardiola was keen to hold on to his second choice goalkeeper as the Blues vie for silverware on four fronts in the second half of the season.

The Manchester City manager waxed lyrical of Trafford after his side progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup by beating Salford City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with the latter touching on his game-time situation in a post-match interview with BBC Sport that has since divided opinion among the club’s fanbase on social media.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium are expected to listen to offers for Trafford this summer, with a firm expectation for the Englishman to part ways with Manchester City for the second time in three years should a suitor club offer market value.

Donnarumma has firmly established himself as Guardiola’s number one and there is little hope of Trafford usurping the Italy international between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium, though the City Football Academy graduate will play a pivotal role in his boyhood club’s runs in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the run-in.