Exclusive: Man City respond to James Trafford interest as Premier League clubs swoop
Manchester City have no intention of allowing James Trafford to leave in January, sources have told Football Insider.
The 23-year-old has fallen behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, but the Citizens are not prepared to entertain the idea of a sale midway through the season.
Football Insider revealed at the start of December that Wolves are interested in Trafford in January, but sources have now indicated that City’s desire to compete for trophies across all fronts is set to see him stay put until the summer at least.
Trafford has also been linked with the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham, but Pep Guardiola and Co. will block any chance of a deal this winter.
James Trafford forced to settle for cup minutes in 2025-26
Trafford would have hoped to become City’s number one goalkeeper when he moved back to his boyhood club from Burnley in the summer, but that was prior to Donnarumma’s arrival.
The Englishman played the opening three games of the Premier League season for City, but was promptly replaced after Donnarumma arrived from PSG at the start of September.
The 26-year-old penned a five-year deal at the Etihad, and as a result, is highly unlikely to be leaving any time soon.
His arrival has left Trafford to settle with minutes in the domestic cups, plus the occasional Champions League appearance.
However, if Guardiola’s men continue in their current vein of form, then that could yet see him get plenty of gametime as the campaign progresses.
City are hot on the heels of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and are also well placed in the Champions League, as well as still being in both domestic cup competitions.
They face Brentford in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and Trafford is expected to start that encounter, having played in the competition’s earlier rounds.
Trafford becomes victim of opportune Man City transfer business
Donnarumma’s arrival was a statement signing from City, who were rewarded for being opportunistic in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.
They remained tuned in to the ongoing situation at PSG, and were ready to pounce when the French capital club made it clear that the Italian wasn’t needed after they signed Lucas Chevalier.
The ex-AC Milan star is widely regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, and Guardiola and Co. reacted quickly to respond to an unexpected but unmissable opportunity to strengthen the squad even further.
Trafford will certainly count himself unlucky at the way the events of the summer played out, and they look set to leave him chasing another move just months down the line.