Liverpool and Chelsea express interest in summer transfer for Manchester City goalkeeper | OneFootball

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League ahead of the summer transfer window, as per a new report.

Trafford is widely expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season after struggling for game time following his return to the Etihad Stadium after two seasons at Burnley.

The 23-year-old returned to his boyhood club in 2025 to challenge for the number one goalkeeping spot and even started each of Manchester City’s first three Premier League games of the season.

Why does Trafford want to leave Man City?

However, Trafford has not played a single minute in the Premier League since Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s eleventh hour arrival from Paris Saint-Germain and is set for a summer departure.

According to the information of Goal’s Richard Martin, each of Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have expressed their interest in signing Trafford this summer.

Manchester City want to retain Trafford into the 2026-27 season but should the Carlisle-born star express a desire to leave, the club will not stand in his way.

Did Trafford attempt a January exit?

Trafford is believed to have wanted a move in January amid interest from Newcastle United and Aston Villa but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blocked an exit as the Blues competed in several competitions.

However, Trafford wants to play week-in, week-out and is understood to have accepted that his long-term future lies away from the Etihad Stadium ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

There have also recently been suggestions of Manchester City being open to a season-long loan should no suitor club be able to match their asking price for Trafford.

What will Man City’s transfer window look like?

Manchester City have already seen club captain Bernardo Silva confirm he will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season.

John Stones is also set to announce his departure next week as the 31-year-old approaches the end of a decorated spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues are also expected to sanction permanent exits for on-loan stars Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and receive interest for the likes of Rico Lewis, Phil Foden, Rodri, Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

City director of football Hugo Viana will progress his remake of Guardiola’s squad in his second summer at the club as executives also await a decision on the Manchester City manager’s plans for the 2026-27 campaign.