Gianluigi Donnarumma: Man City transfer for “one of the greatest” given green light as James Trafford No.1 verdict delivered

James Trafford “would back himself in a battle against anyone” for the No.1 jersey at Manchester City, but he is likely to settle for a role as second fiddle to either Ederson or Gianluigi Donnarumma, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.

After spending eight years in Man City’s academy between 2015 and 2023, Trafford was sold to Burnley and excelled as their first-choice goalkeeper before returning to the Etihad Stadium this summer for a reported £27m.

Man City’s new number one was handed his Premier League debut and kept a clean sheet as the Citizens eased to a 4-0 opening win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last weekend.

Trafford started between the sticks in the absence of goalkeeper Ederson, who is said to have missed out due to illness at a time when he has been strongly linked with a move to Galatasaray amid reports that the Turkish giants have submitted a €10m (£8.6m) offer.

Should Man City agree to sell Ederson this summer, it is understood that Pep Guardiola’s side will step up their interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who looks increasingly likely to leave the French giants following a fallout over his contract and having been excluded from Luis Enrique’s squad.

The potential arrival of 26-year-old Donnarumma, widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in world football, has raised questions about the role of Trafford, 22, in Guardiola’s first-team plans for the 2025-26 season and beyond.

Man City presented with Trafford dilemma amid Donnarumma links

McInerney felt that Trafford “looked like he belonged” as Man City’s starting goalkeeper following a commanding display against Wolves, and although he would like to see the academy graduate cement his place between the sticks, acting as an understudy appears to be on the cards whether Ederson or Donnarumma is at the club after the September 1 transfer deadline.

“I don't believe that Trafford would have had no idea that City would pursue a keeper if Ederson went,” McInerney told Sports Mole. “I don’t think City and Hugo Viana, City's new director of football, would have lied to him.

“I think they would have told him there's always a chance of elite players coming in and I'd already guess James Trafford - given the person he is, given his confidence - would back himself in a battle against anyone.

“That's why he's at Manchester City in the first place and I think there's an element of if you come to City, it isn't going to be easy. I know it's different for goalkeepers because there’s one spot, one chance to get on the pitch, but I still think there's an element of ‘this is the bed you've made, you've got to lie in it’ because it is Manchester City, it's not Burnley.

“He hasn't got extensive Premier League experience and coming in and immediately displacing City's number one, be it Ederson or Donnarumma, was never going to be the task that he was given straight away.

“I think he was always going to have to wait a little bit and the rumours were that he was going to be number two behind Ederson for this season anyway. Having said that, we've just watched him and it's annoying to watch him be so comfortable against Wolves.

Trafford “looked like he belonged” as Man City’s No.1 in Wolves debut

“He's not 10 out of 10 with the ball at his feet, but he's pretty good and he didn't do anything wrong. He played a lovely pass to [Tijjani] Reijnders for that third goal and he also looks really good at commanding his area.

“A couple of chances were offside, but there were still big saves and one in particular I felt that maybe Ederson might have not got a hand to because it was a really powerful save from a one-on-one when [Trafford] spread himself nicely.

“He looked for all intents and purposes like Manchester City's number one. He is on the back of the shirt. He looked like he belonged there and that is the reaction you want to see I guess from a young goalkeeper surrounded by rumours of this established keeper coming in.

“All he can do is - it's cliche - is play as well as he can and hopefully get the shirt. I would love to see him as City's number one. I am incredibly biased. I've been watching James Trafford in the academy for an awful long time, I know how much he loves Manchester City and I just prefer that story, it's more romantic to me.”

McInerney is indeed a huge fan of Trafford, but he would not be against Man City replacing Ederson with “one of the greatest” goalkeepers around in the form of Donnarumma, who played an integral role in PSG winning the domestic treble in France and their first-ever Champions League trophy last season.

“Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the greatest. He's nearly a living legend,” said McInerney. “He's been playing for 10 years and he's only 26 years old. He's one of the best keepers around.

Man City given green light to sign “special” Donnarumma

“City might need a slight tweak to how we played because he's not going to pass it comfortably at all across his backline in the way that other keepers can, but we can't deny that his pedigree is one of immense quality.

“We've seen him come alive for PSG in the Champions League, winning the treble. We've seen him essentially win shootouts for Italy. Donnarumma is a special keeper on his day.

“I think Trafford may be more suited to Donnarumma, but I'm not going to sit here and complain if we sign a keeper of the quality of Donnarumma. I can only presume that Guardiola has thought about this.

“I'm sure he's thought about the differences between Donnarumma and Ederson and he understands that there'll have to be a change of plan, and to be honest, I would suspect we've already seen it anyway.

“City were much more direct (against Wolves). They were much more willing to attack quicker. I think (Guardiola and his staff) probably know that City can't build up quite as slowly and as cautiously with Donnarumma if he comes in, and they're quite happy giving the ball to the midfielders and being a little bit more direct with it, because that's the only way to be.”

Some may argue that Guardiola would have a tough task on his hands in keeping both Trafford and a potential new arrival, such as Donnarumma, happy if they were to rotate throughout the season, and the prospect of one leaving if they became frustrated with their game time is something City should fear.

Trafford told to be “better than Donnarumma” if he wants Man City No.1 spot

Sharing his thoughts, McInerney said: “There's always that fear [but] I do believe [Trafford] was aware that he was going to be number two this season anyway, so nothing's really changed there. Ederson was always going to be ahead of him and it's not like you get no football when you play for Manchester City.

“Stefan Ortega’s has 56 appearances for City over three seasons and the appearances have been going up a little bit, so he's not just playing three or four games a season. There's roughly 20 games a season there, and in the first season he barely played at all because it was the treble season where Ederson was more or less omnipresent, other than the other cup runs.

“James Trafford is going to play probably 10 to 15 games, presuming City go far in the cup competitions, and there'll be the odd game that we don't expect him to play for whatever reason, so he will get some football.

“He's training with some of the best in the world, he'll improve and I understand it might be an issue come the summer time, but he might be happy enough to give it another year or so (as a number two). Guardiola's only got two years left on his contract. He might be willing to hang around and see where the next manager takes him.

“If we sell [Trafford], City [effectively paid only £13m to re-sign him], so it's not like it's a total disaster financially. It would be a real shame, because I think he's got the quality, but we'll have to see how it plays out.

“He talks an awful lot about wanting to be the best and play with the best and so on, and he's got to back up his talk really to an extent. If you really do think you're going to be Manchester City's number one - he's said that publicly multiple times, even as a young lad - then you've got to be better than Donnarumma.”

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