Man City sent "definitely" transfer message as James Trafford to Newcastle rumours grow
Man City goalkeeper James Trafford has been linked with a move to Newcastle ahead of the summer.
It has been an excellent week for Man City goalkeeper James Trafford. He started in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal and was able to keep a clean sheet against the Gunners, helping City to win the Carabao Cup, and the first trophy of the year.
However, despite his week being excellent, it hasn’t been the start to life at Man City that Trafford would have wanted. The former Burnley goalkeeper joined in the summer, but the Cityzens then signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, making Trafford the backup keeper at the Etihad.
He was linked with a move to Newcastle before joining City, and amid his lack of regular game time this season, the Trafford to Newcastle links are getting stronger and stronger.
Alan Shearer says Trafford will join Newcastle
After the final, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer was full of praise for Trafford after his performance for Man City. But he also said that he believes that Trafford will join Newcastle in the summer, as his move to the Etihad hasn’t been what he expected it to be.
Shearer said on the Rest is Football Podcast: “He’s coming to Newcastle, lads. It wouldn’t surprise me. It was almost done and dusted last summer, and then, for whatever reason, City came back in with a buy-back clause.
“I guess he thought that he was going there as a No.1 [goalkeeper], and clearly other things took over with Donnarumma [moving to City]. I would like to think that Newcastle would be back in for him. He will definitely have options, but if he was that close to Newcastle last summer, I would see no reason for him not to be that close again.”
Trafford has made 13 appearances for Manchester City this season, conceding 10 goals and keeping six clean sheets. Just three of those appearances came for Trafford in the Premier League.
What has Trafford said about his future?
Trafford has been very vocal about the fact that his move to City hasn’t been what he first expected due to the lack of game time. He has said in the past that he has struggled this year, and he doubled down on this point after the Carabao Cup final.
Trafford spoke to Sky Sports after the game. He said: “Yeah, it means a lot to have his [Pep Guardiola's] faith, and it’s a testament to how I believed in myself, and how I acted in training, when I’ve been brought in for club games.
“Every time that I play I just give it my best shot. No illusions, it hasn’t been easy at all. It’s been really tough at times, but I have a really good set of people around me. My teammates and my coaches have been brilliant. They have kept me going and given me individual goals. It’s down to them."