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Credit: Imago

Jonathan Burnett

Sun 17 August 2025 15:07, UK

James Trafford wants to stake his claim for Manchester City and England’s number one shirts despite the prospect of an “imminent” new signing railroading his progress.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson argued that Trafford won’t let City’s move for Gianluigi Donnarumma slow down his progress.

Football Insider revealed on 12 August that Man City were stepping up their pursuit of Donnarumma after the news that he isn’t in Luis Enrique’s plans at PSG, despite signing Trafford earlier this summer.

Trafford started between the sticks and kept a clean sheet in Man City‘s opening-day victory over Wolves, after Ederson was left out of the squad altogether by Pep Guardiola amid links to Galatasaray.

The 22-year-old is yet to win a senior England cap, but Robinson told Football Insider that Trafford has his eye on usurping Jordan Pickford between the sticks for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the 2026 World Cup.

Robinson suggested to Football Insider on 16 August that Man City’s move for Donnarumma is “close” to completion, but added that Trafford won’t give up his position without a fight at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City re-signed Trafford from Burnley in a £30million deal (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

This article contains exclusive comment from Paul Robinson, a football pundit and former England, Tottenham and Leeds goalkeeper.

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Football Insider revealed on 12 August that Man City will accept offers for Stefan Ortega this summer, which alongside Ederson‘s potential exit, would create space in the squad for Donnarumma to fill.

Speaking on the latest Inside Track podcast, Robinson said that Trafford has arrived at the Etihad to be City’s number one, despite the “imminent” arrival of top-tier competition in the form of Donnarumma.

“James Trafford’s obviously going to want to play, he wants to get in the England squad”, Robinson told Football Insider.

“He wants to try and take Jordan Pickford’s shirt for the World Cup at the end of the season.

Thomas Tuchel, we know, is a big admirer of Trafford, so that’s one to keep your eye on as well.

“It does look a bit of a left-field one, but I’m led to believe that Donnarumma to Manchester City is imminent.”

Gianluigi Donnarumma is out of favour at Paris Saint-Germain (Credit: Imago)

Trafford’s return to the Etihad this summer had seemingly answered Man City’s goalkeeping question for the next 10 years, but their pursuit of Donnarumma potentially throws a spanner in the works for Trafford.

Man United were told they’d have to pay £435,000-a-week in wages to sign Donnarumma, and Enrique’s dismissal of the Italian at PSG raises questions over whether he’d even fit with Guardiola’s style of play.

Donnarumma is only three-and-a-half years Trafford’s senior despite their disparity in career experience so far, but his “imminent” arrival at the Etihad creates all sorts of questions for Man City’s long-term plan.

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