Manchester City may consider bringing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford back to the club this summer, according to HITC Football.
Trafford was sold to the Clarets for an initial £15m last year, with another £4m due in add-ons. The Cityzens included a buyback option in the transfer, which is said to be worth around triple Burnley’s purchase price.
However, it is very unlikely that Pep Guardiola’s side would have to pay that much to re-sign Trafford, with it being reported that £20m could be enough to secure his signature.
Burnley have recently recruited Vaclav Hladky from Ipswich Town and the 33-year-old could well start the season as first choice, leaving Trafford surplus to requirements.
Why do City want another keeper?
There is a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding the future of current No.1 Ederson. Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola said he is not sure whether the Brazilian will still be at the club by the end of the transfer window:
“I don’t know [whether he will stay – he has to see maybe now other options. Of course, I’d like him to stay. Depends now [on] the clubs. I don’t know the situation, no contact in the last days. A question of training and being with us until the transfer window finishes and we see what happens.”
Ederson is believed to have accepted an offer from Al-Ittihad but there is still a distance between the two clubs on the transfer fee. City are demanding at least £50m.
2 other Premier League clubs are keen on Trafford
Chelsea have kept close tabs on the 21-year-old over the last twelve months, but their bid for Vilarreal’s Filip Jorgensen suggests that they will not make a move for Trafford this summer.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have already made a serious attempt to secure the keeper’s signature but the Magpies refused to increase their opening bid of £16m.