Leeds United are growing increasingly confident of completing a deal for James Trafford this summer, with sources revealing that the Manchester City goalkeeper now favours a move to Elland Road and has already agreed personal terms over a blockbuster move.
Manchester City are expected to demand a significant fee, and want a sale of up £40m – a fee that would represent a new club record at Elland Road. Newcastle United, long linked with the highly rated shot-stopper, have now dropped out of the running after learning of Trafford’s preference for Leeds.
Trafford is understood to be seeking regular first-team football and sees Daniel Farke’s side as a clear pathway towards this. According to FourFourTwo, Premier League rivals Leeds United are closing in on Trafford instead. They’re in the market for a goalkeeper after Karl Darlow’s move to Manchester United, though that move was likely informed in part by Leeds’ plan to bring in a number one regardless.
“It is no secret Trafford wants to play far more regularly than he did with City last season and he would be the undisputed No.1 at Elland Road,” reports Leeds correspondent Beren Cross. “The West Yorkshire outfit will also lean on the platform they gave Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach in returning to their national teams. “Leeds will hope Trafford can be their long-term solution between the sticks. Meanwhile, Karl Darlow has left, but even if he had stayed, it is unlikely he would have been No.1 in the upcoming campaign.”
Trafford, who came through City’s academy, was bought back last summer after City activated their matching rights clause when Newcastle had made an offer for him. But Trafford was surprised when City then bought Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the Italy international becoming the regular in the Premier League and the Champions League. Trafford only made four Premier League appearances for City, though he did start the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals to give him two medals to show for his second spell at City.