Manchester City omit James Trafford as £40m Leeds United move edges closer | OneFootball

James Trafford has been omitted from Manchester City’s pre-season tour of Asia, with a £40m move to Leeds United edging closer.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Leeds are closing in on a £40m-plus deal for the 23-year-old, surpassing their £35.5m record for Georginio Rutter in January 2023. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, with a summer move anticipated.

City flew out on Tuesday for games in Hong Kong and Seoul. Enzo Maresca named a 28-man squad, with Trafford absent.

He is among several first-team players on a mandated three-week break after the World Cup, having been in England’s squad.

Maresca has taken four goalkeepers, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marcus Bettinelli, and academy pair Max Chabot and Jack Wint.

Leeds hope to complete the deal, with Trafford’s preference reportedly to join Daniel Farke’s side. He hopes to replace Jordan Pickford as number one but must play regularly first.

Regular starts will be available at Elland Road, where only Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns are in the goalkeeping group. Karl Darlow and Illan Meslier saw out their Elland Road deals before joining Manchester United and Arsenal this summer.

If Trafford arrives, Perri is expected to depart, with Torino heavily linked.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk