Burnley turn to Manchester City for potential James Trafford replacement | OneFootball

Manchester City and Burnley could engage in an unofficial player swap deal in the goalkeeper position this summer, according to new reports.

City are believed to have made contact with the Clarets over the signing of James Trafford this week as they progress what has been a significant squad revamp following the appointment of Hugo Viana as director of football earlier in the summer.

Marcus Bettinelli’s arrival from Chelsea has already freshened up Pep Guardiola’s options between the sticks as uncertainty continues to loom over the future(s) of goalkeeping pair Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno.

The duo are entering the final year of their respective deals at the Etihad Stadium but it is understood that they remain open to a transfer as Manchester City rebuild their squad to challenge for major trophies in the seasons to come – following a pretty sub-standard 2024-25 campaign.

City have already made a series of changes to their first-team squad this summer, adding Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Bettinelli to the side that recorded a disappointing third-place Premier League finish last term.

Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson and Kyle Walker have all left as Manchester City await the impending exit of James McAtee, who is exploring options in Germany as he makes a decision on his next club after captaining England to U-21 European Championship glory in June.

Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips have been told to find new clubs before the Premier League campaign begins next month, with the former set to report for individual training at the club’s facilities on July 28 in anticipation of a solution on his much-deliberated future away from the Etihad Stadium.

After addressing some pressing issues in their roster, Manchester City have turned their attention to Burnley’s James Trafford to be ready to activate the buy-back clause in their academy graduate’s contract in the event that one of Ederson or Ortega Moreno leaves the club in what remains of the transfer window.

According to new information from talkSPORT, Ortega Moreno is now an option for Burnley manager Scott Parker should he lose James Trafford this summer, with a resolution expected on the goalkeeping front at the Etihad Stadium and Turf Moor in the weeks to follow.

However, at present Burnley have not yet made a formal approach to Manchester City for the aforementioned Germany international shot-stopper, despite initial contact having been made by Etihad Stadium officials for Trafford.

It remains to be seen whether Manchester City follow their interest in Trafford with a formal bid, which is likely to follow only after they would be informed of a firm desire to leave and a offer worth accepting for one of Ederson or Ortega Moreno.

Ederson failed to get a desired move to Saudi Arabia last summer and has been heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium as he enters what would be his ninth season in Manchester – after arriving for £35 million from Benfica in 2017.