Report: Leeds could make summer move for £30m Manchester City star | OneFootball

Leeds United Target James Trafford in Ambitious Manchester City Raid

Leeds United are exploring a move for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, with TeamTalk reporting that the Yorkshire club are firmly in the race to secure his signature this summer.

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Trafford’s situation at the Etihad has shifted since his £27million return from Burnley last year. The 23-year-old has found first team opportunities limited, largely confined to cup competitions, with Gianluigi Donnarumma established as Pep Guardiola’s first choice. For a goalkeeper at a pivotal stage of development, that lack of league exposure carries consequences.

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Sources indicate Trafford is keen to move in search of regular football, mindful of his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England plans. The desire is not framed as dissatisfaction but as professional necessity.

Leeds Position Themselves for £30m Pursuit

Leeds view Trafford as an ideal addition, someone capable of bringing authority and reliability between the posts. TeamTalk suggest Manchester City could demand in excess of £30million, reflecting both the investment made and the belief in his long term value.

For Leeds, feasibility depends heavily on context. Premier League survival would unlock greater flexibility in the market. Without that security, attracting a player of Trafford’s wage expectations and pedigree becomes far more complex.

Daniel Farke’s goalkeeping department has required scrutiny. Illan Meslier is set to depart as a free agent after slipping down the pecking order. Lucas Perri, signed last summer, has endured inconsistent form and been dropped, with 35-year-old Karl Darlow starting the last four Premier League matches. Sources describe Farke as “underwhelmed” and suggest confidence in Perri has diminished.

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Trafford would arrive with a clearer pathway to the starting XI than at Manchester City.

Competition Intensifies Across Premier League

Leeds are not alone in their admiration. Tottenham Hotspur have been persistently linked, while Aston Villa and Newcastle United retain interest. Each represents a different competitive environment, but all would test Leeds’ resolve.

Manchester City, for their part, are not under pressure to sell. Guardiola and sporting director Hugo Viana have time to evaluate succession planning. A departure remains possible, though, and the summer window could offer Trafford clarity.

For Leeds, the equation is straightforward. Secure Premier League status and pursue ambition. Fail to do so and the landscape alters.

Trafford’s next move promises to be one of the more intriguing goalkeeper stories of the window, with Leeds positioning themselves as serious contenders.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Goalkeeping instability has unsettled Leeds. Meslier’s exit feels inevitable, Perri has failed to convince consistently, and Darlow’s experience offers steadiness but not long term reassurance.

Trafford represents progression. He is young, English and already accustomed to elite standards at Manchester City. His hunger for regular football aligns with Leeds’ need for someone determined to prove himself.

The £30million figure is substantial. Fans will ask whether resources should be prioritised elsewhere. Yet stability in goal can transform defensive confidence across a season. If survival is secured, investing decisively in a goalkeeper with growth ahead of him would signal intent rather than indulgence.

Leeds have too often reacted to circumstances. Moving assertively for Trafford would demonstrate planning. Supporters would welcome that shift.