Jeff Stelling has suggested he feels sorry over one of Manchester City’s new signings amid a big transfer rumour now doing the rounds.
The Citizens have been busy on the transfer front this summer as Pep Guardiola and Hugo Viana look to ensure the 2024/25 campaign will be remembered as just a blip in their glory years.
Manchester City have brought in a host of top players such as Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford.
However, links have now emerged between Man City and Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Stelling is worried over what this could mean for Trafford.
Jeff Stelling feels Gianluigi Donnarumma rumours will affect James Trafford
Man City are reportedly looking at Donnarumma, with one report suggesting they’ve already agreed personal terms with the Paris Saint-Germain star after talks with Guardiola.
Donnarumma has bid farewell to PSG and their fans after Luis Enrique opted to freeze him out amid a stalemate in contract talks, with Lucas Chevalier set for the No. 1 spot.
Trafford has only just joined City, with Stefan Ortega set to make way, and the Englishman would have expected to challenge Ederson for the No. 1 spot.
However, should Donnarumma join City, there’s a good chance he would be all-but guaranteed a first-choice spot, even if Ederson were to leave.
“The person with his head in his hands at City’s training ground this morning is James Trafford,” Stelling said on talkSPORT.
“If he hears these rumours, it must affect him.
“He’s gone to City with a real chance of starting, maybe not every game until Ederson moves on, but a real chance. And now he hears this?”
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What Manchester City insiders think about James Trafford’s future
Trafford has joined Man City off the back of a superb season for Burnley, conceding just 16 goals and keeping 30 clean sheets in the Championship.
Journalist Mark Ogden recently claimed that City feel Trafford has the potential to become number one for club and country in the future.
“I’ve been told that City really think that James Trafford can really push Ederson to become the number one,” Ogden told ESPN FC.
“They think they can become a future England goalkeeper, push Jordan Pickford for that spot.”
However, when a player of Donnarumma’s calibre becomes available, it’s impossible not to stand up and take notice, especially when you have a realistic chance of signing him.
What this would mean for the £31million summer signing remains to be seen.
