Man City enquire about re-signing Burnley goalkeeper Trafford

 

MAN CITY MAKE £40M TRAFFORD MOVE! CHAMPIONS ACTIVATE BUY-BACK CLAUSE IN BURNLEY TALKS

Manchester City have taken the first official step toward reuniting with James Trafford, having reportedly made formal contact with Burnley over a potential deal for the 22-year-old goalkeeper.

Trafford, who rose through City’s youth ranks before being sold to Burnley in 2023, is once again on the radar of Pep Guardiola’s side, who are exploring long-term options for their goalkeeping department. The club’s renewed interest highlights Trafford’s development since his departure, and signals a possible homecoming for one of their most promising academy products.

Despite Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League last season, Trafford gained valuable first-team experience, making a series of standout performances and showing resilience under pressure. His strong distribution, quick reflexes, and leadership at the back have not gone unnoticed at the Etihad, where City are considering succession planning behind Ederson and assessing their depth in goal.

With Stefan Ortega’s long-term future still uncertain amid interest from Bundesliga clubs, City are evaluating Trafford as a high-upside option to either compete for the No.2 role or grow into a more prominent position in the years to come.

Burnley, now preparing for life back in the Championship, are aware of the interest and are expected to place a significant valuation on Trafford, especially given his contract situation and growing reputation. However, the player’s prior connection with City and his familiarity with the club’s philosophy could help smooth negotiations.

A return to Manchester City would mark a full-circle moment for Trafford, who joined the club’s youth setup as a teenager and was highly rated before his departure. His progress since leaving appears to have reignited belief within City that he could still be a long-term asset.

Talks are understood to be at an early stage, but with pre-season underway and City aiming to finalise their squad depth early, the situation could move quickly in the coming weeks.