James Trafford issues glowing praise on Bernardo Silva and Manchester City as transfer nears | OneFootball

Manchester City’s impending goalkeeper arrival James Trafford has recently reflected on his first experience as a player for the club after graduating from its youth set-up.

Now on the verge of a return to the Etihad Stadium, Trafford’s comments come at a time of significant change in Manchester City’s goalkeeping department with the club open to offers for Stefan Ortega in particular.

James Trafford, who has spent the last two seasons with Burnley following a £19 million move from Manchester City in 2023, is expected to become the fifth signing completed by Etihad bosses during the ongoing summer.

Trafford spent time within City’s Academy ranks from 2015 before breaking through into England’s youth setup and going on to star in the nation’s Under-21 European Championship triumph of 2023.

Despite never making a competitive appearance for Manchester City’s senior team, he has remained highly thought of by the club, with his development at Bolton Wanderers and Burnley monitored closely in recent seasons.

The 22-year-old now rejoins the Manchester City first-team squad, while talks have swirled over supposed interest in the likes of FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, with Trafford’s homegrown status and strong mentality ultimately viewed as significant assets.

Speaking during a recent appearance on The Ben Foster Podcast, James Trafford reflected on his first-ever experience in the Manchester City first-team, when he was integrated into a fixture away at Burnley as a 17-year-old.

“The first time I was with them [the first-team] it was a game away at Burnley and I hadn’t trained with them. We played in the Checkatrade [Trophy] the night before and then the next day we reported for the game and I was like, bloody hell like, but to be fair there was a few other young lads in it at the time so it was all right,” he said.

“But they’re playing head tennis in the changing rooms,” he continued. “I was obviously 19th man [in the squad], just sat, I didn’t have a place in the cabins at Burnley, just sat, and they’re playing two-touch across the big table with all the bottles on. I was like, f****** hell!

“Like Bernardo Silva stood right there in front of us; he’s getting [it] lamped at him, he’s touching it, lamping it back. I’m like, f****** hell these lads are good. If that was me playing, bloody… I’d have been knocked out, I’d have missed it, I’d have been knocked out!”

Trafford went on to explain, “So it’s just small things, they don’t realise it because it’s normal for them but as a young lad, I was 17 at the time, you’re like, wow, these boys are good!

“And then when you’re training, you’re 17 and watching it and you’re like, yeah, the boys are very, very talented. It’s like a level of near-perfection, especially in training. When they shoot from outside the box, it goes like half a yard either side the post.”

James Trafford’s reflections underline not only the elite standard set within Pep Guardiola’s squad, but also the awe many young players experience upon stepping into the Manchester City environment for the very first time.

As for what comes next, Trafford’s reintegration could take multiple forms. Should Ederson be sold – with Galatasaray showing concrete interest – the England international may be brought back as a No.1 choice alongside Stefan Ortega.

However, for the time being, the strongest likelihood is for the aforementioned German stopper to step aside from his illustrious three-season stay at Manchester City following a free transfer move from Arminia Bielefeld in 2022.