West Ham are reportedly set to go head-to-head with Newcastle United for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, according to TeamTalk.
The 23-year-old England international is said to be seeking a January exit after what was meant to be a dream return to City quickly turned into a nightmare.
The link comes amid reports that West Ham’s summer signing Mads Hermansen could be offloaded just months after arriving at the London Stadium.
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Trafford Frozen Out After Donnarumma Arrival
Trafford rejoined Pep Guardiola’s side from Burnley last summer in a £19 million deal, with the expectation that he would act as Ederson’s long-term understudy and eventual successor.
However, those plans were thrown into disarray when City stunned the transfer market by signing Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.
The Italian Euro 2020 winner’s £40 million switch has left Trafford out in the cold, limited to just two domestic cup appearances and minimal Premier League action this season.
Both West Ham and Newcastle are now believed to be closely monitoring his situation ahead of the winter transfer window.
Hermansen has been ousted from the West Ham team by Areola
Hermansen’s West Ham Future in Doubt
Meanwhile, Mads Hermansen’s fall from grace at West Ham has been remarkably swift. Signed for £15 million from Leicester City in the summer, the Danish stopper has lost his place under Graham Potter and then Nuno Espirito Santo, who has instead shown opted for Alphonse Areola.
The Hammers have also re-signed veteran keeper Łukasz Fabiański, having initially released him in June, and recently recalled Finn Herrick from his loan spell — suggesting a full rethink of the club’s goalkeeping hierarchy may be on the horizon.
With Hermansen’s future uncertain and Trafford potentially available, West Ham could look to strengthen between the sticks once again — but they’ll face stiff competition from St James’ Park.