The latest on Manchester City’s Leeds United-linked goalkeeper James Trafford as an Aston Villa claim emerges
Aston Villa are reportedly keeping a close eye on Manchester City;s James Trafford amid talk of interest from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The 23-year-old only returned to the Etihad Stadium last summer, two years after he was sold by the Premier League giants to Burnley.
A buy-back clause was activated to take Trafford back into Pep Guardiola’s squad, but he has been playing second-fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
James Trafford has been playing the understudy role at Manchester City this season.placeholder image
James Trafford has been playing the understudy role at Manchester City this season. | Mike Egerton/PA Wire
James Trafford latest
It appears the aforementioned outfits could face competition from Villa, who Mail Online have claimed are watching Trafford.
The Midlands club will reportedly contemplate selling Emiliano Martinez this summer and Trafford would arguably be an ideal replacement.
Not only is Trafford capable of being a long-term solution at just 23, he would add to Villa’s homegrown quota.
Leeds United’s goalkeeping department
There looks set to be some upheaval in the goalkeeping department at Leeds this summer, with three of the club’s four senior goalkeepers out of contract at the end of the season. Karl Darlow, Illan Meslier and Alex Cairns all have deals that expire in the coming months.
Darlow is currently the first-choice stopper in LS11 having dislodged £15.6m signing Lucas Perri, who made a series of blunders that cost him his spot in the side. Perri has, however, been featuring for the Whites in the FA Cup.
Lucas Perri recently helped Leeds United book a place in the FA Cup semi-finals - but has been playing the role of understudy in the Premier League.placeholder image
Lucas Perri recently helped Leeds United book a place in the FA Cup semi-finals - but has been playing the role of understudy in the Premier League. | John Walton/PA Wire
Reports have suggested Leeds would like to retain former Hull City loanee Darlow, although it would not be a surprise to see Perri moved on.
If a sale of the former Lyon stopper was sanctioned, the Whites would need another high-profile figure on board for Darlow to compete with.