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Guardiola confirms January transfer plan for angry Man City star
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 16 Dec 2025 17:54 GMT
- 4 min read
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Pep Guardiola has insisted that he is not looking to sell one of Manchester City's wantaway stars in the January transfer window after splashing the cash to sign him in the summer.
City spent more than €200 million on players during the summer window including €31m on James Trafford, who rejoined the club from Burnley after a standout season in the Championship.
Current ETV
James Trafford
GK
Man City
James Trafford
GK
Man City
ETV Range
€36.6M - €44.7M
Trafford started the season as Guardiola’s first choice keeper but he lost his place after three matches following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, leading to suggestions that the England international may be looking to leave City already.
However, Guardiola brushed off any notion of selling Trafford in January and feels the 23-year-old still has a part to play until the end of the season, at which point an exit could be sanctioned.
"He's an incredible keeper. Unfortunately for him Gianluigi is the first-choice keeper but he is an incredible keeper,” Guardiola said. "I know the position of the keeper is so special and during the year in one game you can change.
"The keeper position is special. He is with us and will be with us this season and after we will see what happens. Absolutely [he will stay in January].”
Trafford set for World Cup disappointment after transfer regret
Trafford was named the Championship player of the year after conceding just 16 goals all season for Burnley, which prompted City to activate their buy-back clause to bring their academy graduate back to the club.
With City selling long-term number one Ederson in the summer, Trafford was given the opportunity to make the position his own, however he failed to convince Guardiola of his credentials in his first few appearances.
Donnarumma’s arrival in August condemned Trafford to the bench and he has made just three further appearances in cup competitions since, leading to reports that he will push for an exit in January ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Newcastle are among the teams that have been linked with Trafford after he rejected the Magpies to rejoin City but he will now have to wait until next summer to find first team football, which could see him miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
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