West Ham look set to battle it out with Leeds United in the transfer market — IF we manage to stay in the Premier League this season.
The report comes from CaughtOffside, who claim the Hammers are lining up a move for goalkeeper James Trafford, who looks set to leave Manchester City this summer.
Trafford — a product of the Man City academy — returned to the Etihad this season, spurning the chance to join Newcastle United.
Unfortunately for the keeper, Pep Guardiola also brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma, leaving Trafford relegated to the substitutes’ bench. He is now seeking a move away in search of regular first-team football.
That has evidently alerted both West Ham and Leeds to his availability — although he may have a fight on his hands if a certain Mads Hermansen has anything to say about it.
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Because West Ham’s record goalkeeping signing is finally settling into life at the London Stadium, having also been handed a reprieve by manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
Hermansen yesterday said: “The work I’ve done over the last four or five months to be able to perform when I got the chance again has put me in a good place. This is the real Mads that you see in goal now.”
So while Trafford may be available, West Ham’s pursuit is far from straightforward largely because we don’t know which division we’ll be playing in next season. And with the likes of Aston Villa and the Magpies also rumoured to be interest, this rumour should be taken with a large pinch of salt.