Man City's first summer transfer could be about to move a step closer

This weekend could see Manchester City's summer transfer business start to take shape.

"With Trafford, I see the training sessions and for a long time I haven’t seen a goalkeeper as good as James," Pep Guardiola said back in October. But sadly for Manchester City's summer signing, the praise came with a caveat. "We have two incredible 'keepers. Gigio [Donnarumma] for experience, even though he’s just 26 because he started playing with Milan at 17," he added.

"He’s won the European Cup. Of course, he’s a really good 'keeper and I’m happy for him. Since I have been here, always I have had really good 'keepers." When Trafford returned to City, he could not have anticipated this season.

The 23-year-old started the campaign as No.1 but once Donnarumma arrived from PSG, the pecking order was shifted. Trafford has not played in the Premier League since the 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in August. Fortunately, City have gone all the way to the Carabao Cup final and remain in the FA Cup, otherwise Trafford would have had even less playing time.

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It is in the FA Cup on Saturday that Trafford will make his 12th appearance for the Blues. It will be against Newcastle United, a side he has played almost 20 per cent of his matches for City against.

Eddie Howe's side were also the ones who pushed hardest to sign Trafford last summer before the Blues swooped in. Newcastle were keen to bring in the Englishman as their new first choice. Aaron Ramsdale arrived on loan from Southampton but the Magpies are likely to delve into the market again at the end of the season.

Should they return for Trafford, it is unlikely the goalkeeper will reject them again. City's second choice won't wait around for Donnarumma to move on.

Had he played regular football this season, he would have been one of the favourites to go to the World Cup. Instead, his spot is in jeopardy.

Saturday will prove to be an audition for Trafford. Impress and Newcastle are sure to be one of the suitors after him in the summer transfer window.

Fittingly, it was Trafford's opposite number this weekend, Ramsdale, who proved title-challenging clubs cannot have, in the words of Guardiola, 'two incredible 'keepers'. He was replaced at Arsenal by David Raya at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Mikel Arteta insisted he had two No.1s but game time told a different story. Ramsdale was demoted to a back-up option and left the following summer for Southampton.

Guardiola has handled the Trafford issue better than his former student. The goalkeeper's situation has not become a running sideshow, as Ramsdale's did at Arsenal.

But that does not mean the situation is any easier for Trafford to handle. "It wasn't that [I was told I would be the first choice], but it wasn't what happened [either], so it is what it is, it's football," Trafford said after the 2-0 victory over Salford City in the last round.

"It is what it is, you've got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. It's just another experience to add to my career and yeah, it has been good learning."

Whether it be Newcastle or another club, it is safe to say this learning curve for Trafford at City will be consigned to the history books at the end of the season. Saturday could push his exit a step closer.