Tottenham Hotspur have been keeping tabs on this Man City star for quite a while.
Tottenham Hotspur continue to keep moving between promise and panic, and because of that, the season so far feels loose, unsettled, and emotionally draining for every fan. Last year brought a strange mix of European joy and league misery, and this campaign never fully cleared that hangover, because performances still continue to shift from excellent to sloppy within the same week.
Home defeats continue to stack up, and the team often looks unsure about how it wants to take control of matches. That uneven base makes every individual mistake feel heavier, and Guglielmo Vicario now carries much of the noise around the side.
Errors against Fulham and Nottingham Forest still stick in the mind, while risky passes from the back have left fans tense every time the ball comes near him. At the same time, questions around the 29-year-old’s presence at corners and set-pieces have grown louder, and his frustration with defenders after goals only adds to the mood. Spurs have already been plotting options to replace him.
James Trafford has emerged as an option, and Pep Guardiola makes his stance clear
Tottenham James Trafford
James Trafford is not for sale?
In that context, links between Spurs and James Trafford felt logical, because the club is clearly looking for assurance rather than flash, and Trafford ticks boxes around age, profile, and future value. However, that line of talk faded quickly once Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of City’s League Cup tie with Brentford.
Guardiola spoke firmly, made his position clear, and confirmed that Trafford remains part of City’s plans for the rest of the season, which ruled out the possibility of any January move. He praised the 23-year-old’s ability, spoke about how tough life can be for a goalkeeper behind an established first choice, and noted how quickly things can shift from one game to the next. He said (h/t ESPN):
“James Trafford stays in January. He’s staying with us this season, absolutely…He’s an incredible keeper. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi is the first-choice keeper, but he is an incredible keeper. I know the position of the keeper is so special, and during the year, in one game, you can change.”
That clarity matters for Tottenham because earlier reports already hinted that City had no real interest in letting him leave, even temporarily. As a result, any hope of a quick solution through Trafford now slips away, and Spurs turn their attention back on themselves. The timing of this statement increases the spotlight on Vicario even further, as outside options continue to fade and pressure at home keeps growing. For now, Tottenham must handle form, confidence, and atmosphere without expecting help from Manchester City.
What do we understand from what Pep said?
Guardiola’s comments sound calm, firm, and settled, and they silently shut a door Spurs hoped might stay open. From that point of view, Tottenham at least gain clarity, even if they lose a possible option, because uncertainty usually causes more harm than a straight answer.
The North London club now faces a simple decision: fully back Vicario and tighten the structure around him, or allow doubt to spread deeper through the squad. We take Guardiola’s stance as a reminder that January rarely brings easy fixes, especially in goal. Spurs should move forward faster by fixing their shape, choices, and the way they trust individuals, rather than chasing another name to soak up the same pressure.