Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have managed to beat Newcastle to the signature of Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford.

According to a report from the Guardian, James Trafford is all set to return to Manchester City as they have managed to beat Newcastle United in the race for his services. While the Magpies had an agreement on personal terms with the young goalkeeper, City have hijacked the deal.

Trafford was a part of the Manchester City youth setup back in the day. While he did get promoted to their first team in the summer of 2023 after a few impressive loan spells, he left the club before making his senior debut. The 22-year-old goalkeeper ended up joining Burnley in a deal worth £14 million.

The debut season didn’t really go according to plan for him at Turf Moor as he struggled to keep them in the top flight. However, the City graduate did bounce back with some exceptional performances last time out.

He helped them secure an immediate return to the Premier League. Trafford was involved in a total of 45 matches, and he only conceded 16 goals. He ended up keeping a total of 29 clean sheets.

His exceptional performances have ensured he is a regular part of the England national team. While he is yet to make his debut, he has certainly taken some giant strides since joining Burnley. Trafford’s performances have put him on the radar of multiple top clubs.

City hijack deal to re-sign Trafford

Newcastle are one of the clubs that have been keen on signing the 22-year-old for almost two years now. They are looking for a new goalkeeper who can be their number one in the long run and consider Trafford an ideal fit for their project.

While they had convinced him about moving to St James’ Park, City have managed to hijack the deal thanks to the matching rights clause that they had included during his move to Turf Moor. The Magpies were set to secure his services in a deal worth £27 million, but he is now set to reunite with Guardiola.

Trafford is all set to sign a five-year deal at City and will be competing with Ederson and Stefan Ortega for a place in the XI. The duo’s future has been uncertain since the start of the season, and there is a high chance of either of them making a move away following Trafford’s return to the club.