Leeds United central midfielder Anton Stach sustained an ankle injury during the club's win over West Ham United on penalties in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last weekend.
The German star was withdrawn from the action in the first half after a challenge from Max Kilman in the box that was not deemed to be a foul by the referee or the VAR officials.
Stach is now expected to be out for the rest of April, missing several important games in the race to avoid relegation from the Premier League, before returning in May.
Anton-Stach-Dominic-Calvert-Lewin
The midfield machine has been phenomenal for the Whites since his £17.4m move from Hoffenheim last summer, scoring four goals and providing three assists in the top-flight.
He has emerged as an integral member of Daniel Farke's squad and the German coach will need to find a way to churn out results without him for the rest of the month.
Leeds exploring deal to sign Premier League star
Should Leeds go on to avoid relegation back down to the Championship, the 49ers regime and the recruitment team must use the next window to bolster the squad with more signings like Stach.
The Whites need players who can step in and perform immediately, rather than project players who need months or years to adapt, in the same way that the Germany international did last summer.
According to FourFourTwo reporter Joe Donnohue, Leeds United are exploring an "ambitious" move to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford in the upcoming summer transfer window.
james-trafford-man-city
The journalist claims that the club will aim to revamp their goalkeeping options if they avoid relegation from the Premier League, and the England international has been identified as a target whom they would offer first-team guarantees to.
Donnohue adds that Trafford is open to a move away from The Etihad, where he is the number two behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, but that there will be plenty of competition for his signature, whilst it has been reported elsewhere that he is valued at £40m by City.
How James Trafford would be Leeds' best signing since Anton Stach
If the 49ers can win the race to sign the English stopper for £40m ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, the City star could be the club's best signing since they brought Stach to Elland Road.
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The German star has, arguably, been the signing of the season because of the quality that he has brought on and off the ball, making 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game to go alongside his goals and assists.
Despite being the second choice at City, Trafford has played in big games and proved his worth this season, with his last two appearances coming against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Arsenal in the final of the League Cup.
James Trafford Vs Arsenal Vs Liverpool
xG faced 0.74 1.71
Saves made 4 5
xG prevented 0.74 1.71
Goals conceded 0 0
Pass accuracy 61% 86%
Ball recoveries 5 9
The England international kept clean sheets in both games, preventing 2.46 xG with nine saves, and saved a penalty from Mohamed Salah in what was his last game for Liverpool against City.
In his three Premier League appearances for the Cityzens, the shot-stopper has prevented 1.89 xG and kept one clean sheet since signing from Burnley last summer.
In the 2024/25 campaign, Trafford caught the eye with his exceptional performances for the Clarets in the Championship. He prevented 12.82 xG and kept a staggering 29 clean sheets in 45 matches as his team amassed 100 points in the league.
Manchester City's James Trafford looks dejected after the match
The £40m-rated star has shown that he can be an outstanding shot-stopper in the Championship, the Premier League, and in cup competitions against top teams, whilst Farke's goalkeepers have struggled at times.
Karl Darlow has conceded 2.85 more goals than expected in his 15 Premier League matches for Leeds this season, whilst Lucas Perri has let in 2.18 more than expected in his 18 games in the league.
lucas-perri-leeds-west-ham
These statistics suggest that Trafford would arrive at Elland Road as a big upgrade on both of the club's current goalkeeping options, because he has the quality to outperform xG and prevent his team from conceding more goals than they do with Perri and Darlow.
This means that he could improve Farke's defence and give the team a lift for the 2026/27 campaign, should they avoid relegation, as a star who has already proven himself at the top level.
That is why Trafford could be their best signing since Stach because he has the performances against top teams to suggest that he could hit the ground running as an immediate star in West Yorkshire.
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