The possibility of goalkeeper James Trafford swapping Manchester City for Newcastle United this summer has intensified, following revealing comments from both managers ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash.
Managers Drop Transfer Hints Ahead of Semi-Final
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who has admired the 23-year-old for two years, spoke glowingly about the shot-stopper on Monday. "James Trafford is a very good goalkeeper. I'm a big fan of his and I wish him all the best in his career," said Howe, a statement seen as unusually open for a player not currently in his squad.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not rule out a future departure. "We want him and what's going to happen at the end of the season we will see," Guardiola stated. He added, "I would like him to stay for many years here because he has the attributes to play in a big club like us."
Trafford's Frustrating Season at the Etihad
Trafford's move to the Etihad Stadium last July for a fee of £31 million (net £27m) came after he chose City over Newcastle. He had anticipated becoming the club's first-choice keeper. However, the landscape changed dramatically with the deadline-day signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Since that high-profile arrival, Trafford's opportunities have been severely limited. He has been restricted to just four domestic cup appearances and one Champions League match. His rare start in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Exeter highlighted his current status as deputy.
Guardiola addressed the keeper's reaction to his benching, saying, "There's no complaints. James is a top keeper. The situation of the keeper is completely special, right? One plays or the other one... But we count on him."
Cup Focus and Rule Change Irks Howe
With Newcastle battling injuries on multiple fronts, Howe emphasised the importance of cup competitions. "The cups are very important to us because the Premier League is incredibly tough to win and we're not in that position currently," he explained, referencing last season's Carabao Cup triumph.
Ahead of the tie, Howe also expressed frustration at an EFL rule change that allows City's new £62.5 million signing Antoine Semenyo to play, despite featuring for Bournemouth in the competition earlier this season. "It was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him," Howe remarked wryly.
In other Newcastle news, defender Sven Botman has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2030.
