A promising situation may have a sad ending at Manchester City

After growing as a goalkeeper at Burnley, James Trafford returned to Manchester City in a move that promised so much this summer. It seemed that Trafford had the opportunity to potentially become Manchester City’s number-one goalkeeper in time. Given Trafford’s rise through the City academy, it did seem like a fairytale could occur with Trafford fulfilling his potential to become Manchester City’s first-choice keeper for years to come.

But when Ederson left City for Fenerbahce everything changed. Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed by Manchester City from PSG on deadline day last summer. Donnarumma was never going to come to City to not be Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper. The Italian international has seized that mantle and Trafford has spent his time on the bench for the majority of this season. It has now been reported that James Trafford is considering departing City in January. A situation that promised so much when Trafford rejoined City now is seemingly heading towards a sad ending.

James Trafford is reportedly considering leaving Manchester City in January.

Jack Gaughan has reported for the Daily Mail that James Trafford, alongside Stefan Ortega is considering leaving Manchester City in January. Furthermore, Gaughan reports that James Trafford moved to City with the belief that he would have the opportunity to become England’s number-one goalkeeper. But that hasn’t materialised because Gianluigi Donnarumma is now firmly entrenched as Manchester City’s first-choice keeper. Jack Gaughan also reports that James Trafford was told he’d be City’s first-choice keeper when he signed for the club from Burnley. All of those elements combined have contributed to James Trafford considering his future at City.

The entire situation surrounding James Trafford has become sad.

It would be sad to see James Trafford leave Manchester City so soon after rejoining the club. His signing by City last summer was one of the more exciting signings City had made due to the attachment that Trafford has with the club. It was a story that wrote itself with the academy lad coming home to become the first-choice goalkeeper at the club he grew up at.

But circumstances have conspired against James Trafford. Gianluigi Donnarumma is now City’s number-one goalkeeper. The Italian international is one of the top keepers in world football and his presence is an impediment to the development of James Trafford. Trafford won’t become an England international by sitting on the bench at City. He also won’t grow and develop as a keeper by only playing sparingly. The best move for Trafford is seemingly to leave City either on loan or permanently.

It isn’t a surprise to learn that James Trafford is considering his future at City due to the factors that have conspired against him. But it is sad to see the situation that has occurred with the young goalkeeper unfold as he does seem destined to have a successful career at the top level. But to do that Trafford needs to be playing regularly and that opportunity doesn’t seem to be available at Manchester City.