James Trafford left out of Man City tour as £40m Leeds move nears | OneFootball

James Trafford has been omitted from Manchester City's pre-season tour of Asia as a move to Leeds United edges closer.

According to yorkshireevenpost.co.uk, Leeds are closing in on a deal worth £40m plus add-ons for the 23-year-old, a fee that would eclipse the club record £35.5m paid for Georginio Rutter in January 2023.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue and, while nothing has been announced, the expectation is he will become a Leeds player this summer. City have hinted a decision is close. Trafford was the club's cup goalkeeper last season.

City set off for Hong Kong and Seoul on Tuesday, with matches scheduled over the next week. New head coach Enzo Maresca named a 28-man group, with Trafford absent and among those still on a mandated three-week break after the World Cup due to his England involvement.

Maresca has taken four goalkeepers, first-choice Gianluigi Donnarumma, experienced option Marcus Bettinelli and academy pair Max Chabot and Jack Wint.

Leeds hope to complete the deal, with Trafford's preference reportedly to work under Daniel Farke. The England international hopes to eventually dislodge Jordan Pickford as No.1, but first needs regular club football. Regular first-team minutes await at Leeds, who currently have only Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns in goal.

Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier let their contracts run down before moving to Manchester United and Arsenal earlier this summer.

Should Trafford arrive, Perri is expected to depart, with Torino heavily linked.

Source: yorkshireevenpost.co.uk