NEWCASTLE are expected to return for Manchester City ace James Trafford, who wants to leave the Etihad in January – reports suggest.
Trafford, 23, rejoined City in July following a £27million deal with Burnley after using a matching rights clause to beat the Magpies to his signature.
According to The Mail, the goalkeeper returned to Man City – just two years after leaving for the Clarets – with the understanding that he would become Pep Guardiola’s No1 after Ederson’s move to Fenerbahce.
That would have also given the England international an opportunity to dethrone Jordan Pickford in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, the Citizens ultimately signed Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain and established him as the starting keeper.
The same source now claims Trafford is already considering a move ahead of the January transfer window to a club where he could be a starter.
And Newcastle are expected to renew their interest in the shot-stopper next month.
This comes after England boss Tuchel suggested the players he would call up for the World Cup would have to be playing regularly for their club.
Trafford counts a mere total of six appearances for City, with his most recent Premier League game taking place in August.
The ex-Burnley star’s most recent game with Man City took place in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
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The Manchester giants are also facing the prospect of losing Guardiola’s fourth-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
Ortega is behind Marcus Bettinelli in the pecking order and is not travelling to away matches.
That means Guardiola may be forced to sign a keeper during the upcoming winter market.
Trafford spent six years in Man City’s academy until he was called up to the first team in 2021 but was sent out on loan to Accrington Stanley and Bolton.
