Newcastle United frontrunners to sign Manchester City’s James Trafford this summer | OneFootball

James Trafford is increasingly likely to join Newcastle United over Tottenham if he leaves Manchester City this summer, as per a new report.

The 23-year-old has not played a single minute in the Premier League since the end of August 2025, with Gianluigi Donnarumma establishing himself as Pep Guardiola‘s first-choice goalkeeper after a last-minute exit from Paris Saint-Germain.

Trafford returned to Manchester City, his boyhood club, in July 2025 to challenge for the number one goalkeeping position and despite starting each of the Blues’ opening trio of Premier League games this season, the Englishman has struggled for minutes since.

However, his future is expected to be resolved in the summer and after failing to get a desired move in January, Trafford is likely to leave Manchester City permanently for regular first-team opportunities away from the Etihad Stadium.

Trafford’s situation at Man City explained

Since a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium in August 2025, Trafford has not played in the Premier League and has seen minutes limited to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – playing 90 minutes in last week’s cup final win over Arsenal at Wembley.

The Carlisle-born shotstopper sparked doubt over his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium after an FA Cup win over Salford City in January, admitting that he is unhappy with his situation at Manchester City and that a resolution is awaited come the summer.

Manchester City were aware of Trafford being open to a new start as early as January but Guardiola blocked a move as he considered the academy graduate part of his plans for the rest of the season.

Fresh from Carabao Cup glory, Trafford is expected to be between the sticks for Manchester City upon their return from the international break against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final on April 4.

Report: Newcastle leading Tottenham in Trafford race

As reported by journalist Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle United are ahead of Tottenham and other suitors in the race to sign Trafford in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City are unlikely to stand in Trafford’s way should he express a firm desire for an exit ahead of the 2026-27 season but the Blues will want market value for arguably the best second-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Guardiola is believed to be a big fan of Trafford and has hailed the England international’s professionalism and attitude in and around the dressing room this season – despite him having lost his starting place to Donnarumma very early into a full circle return to Manchester from Burnley.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is described as a “huge admirer” of Trafford and the Magpies remain interested in signing a player they were in for before he turned them down to return to Manchester City. As things stand, all signs point to an amicable parting of ways between Trafford and City in the summer.