The Manchester City goalkeeper's comments have sparked questions around his future
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
05:00, 18 Feb 2026
James Trafford
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James Trafford(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Leeds United currently have four goalkeepers on their books but as things stand only one will still be in contract this summer.
All of Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns see their deals run dry in June, though of course there is a chance for renewal talks before then - albeit that is not expected to be the case with Meslier.
Lucas Perri, who joined on a contract until 2029 last summer, had a good game against Birmingham City in Sunday’s FA Cup win having made a super save early on before stopping a spot kick in the penalty shoot-out.
However, Daniel Farke has indicated that he will remain as the number two for now, with Darlow - the man Perri was supposed to usurp for the whole season - the first pick once again. Leeds may have to look at the market for a new goalkeeper once more this summer.
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James Trafford has been one name Leeds fans have touted as someone they would like their club to look at. The 23-year-old is currently second choice at Manchester City, having enacted a £27million return move from Burnley last summer.
Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived later in the window and came in as number one, with Trafford having to settle for second fiddle. After Saturday’s 2-0 win over Salford City, the English shot-stopper said he had not anticipated Donnarumma’s arrival.
“I didn’t expect the situation [with Donnarumma] to happen but it happened, so just get on with it,” said Trafford, who admitted he had not been promised the number one jersey upon re-signing for the Blues.
“So it’s happened so I work very hard every day and see what happens, give it my best shot. No, it wasn’t [no.1 spot promised]. So it is what it is.
“It’s football, you’ve got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. This is just another experience to add to my career and it has been a good learning experience.”
Trafford would most likely go out on loan given his wages and Man City’s inability to avoid a PSR loss on last year's fee. For Leeds, acquiring Trafford would surely depend on Premier League survival.
It also depends whether Perri is able to bounce back and reclaim the number one spot. There are only 12 Premier League games left of the season and so time is running out.
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Farke hinted that he would have liked a new goalkeeper in January, with £16m Perri - whom he previously publicly criticised - clearly not impressing to a satisfactory level.
Currently, it seems likely Leeds will look for a new goalkeeper this summer upon staving off relegation and Trafford is an obvious option to consider.