The unknown transfer clause that raises the stakes for Man City in James Trafford race

Manchester City are weighing up a move to bring James Trafford back to the club but they still face competition for his signature from Newcastle.

Manchester City are eyeing up a move to bring James Trafford back to the club

Manchester City want to sell Ederson or Stefan Ortega before making a move to bring James Trafford back to the club, but they could yet be forced to accelerate those plans with Newcastle still interested in the England goalkeeper.

Turkish giants Galatasaray want Ederson, but City have yet to receive an offer for the 31-year-old, who is out of contract next summer. Ortega is also in the final year of his contract, and Burnley don't intend to try and sign the German goalkeeper despite reports linking the Clarets with the 32-year-old.

City would like to offload Ederson and bring 22-year-old Trafford back to the Etihad, two years after selling him to Burnley for £19million. Those deals would solve a major squad issue for Pep Guardiola, with the Blues needing more homegrown players and needing to offload 'foreign' players under UEFA's Champions League squad rules.

Trafford wants to leave Turf Moor this summer and had been expected to move to Newcastle, who also tried to sign him last summer. But after City declared their interest, he is now keen to return to a club where he spent eight years as an academy player before leaving without playing a first-team game.

The England Under-21 international was set to travel to Portugal with his Burnley teammates for a pre-season training camp last week before withdrawing at the 11th hour. He is now keen to finalise a move to City. The Clarets would also like a swift resolution as they assess the market for a replacement for a goalkeeper who excelled with them in the Championship last season.

While City hope to wait to see if Galatasaray firm up their interest in Ederson, they could have to make a decision on Trafford if Newcastle maintains its strong interest.

The Manchester Evening News can reveal that Newcastle have had at least two bids for Trafford turned down by Burnley this summer, but are understood to still be keen to try and sign the goalkeeper, who they want to replace Nick Pope as the club's No. 1.

It is thought City have a buy-back option at £40million for Trafford, and Newcastle's failed bids come in below that figure. Perhaps more importantly, it can be revealed that City have the option to match any bid that Burnley do accept for Trafford.

If Newcastle were to hit Burnley's asking price, then the Clarets would have to inform City, who would then have three days to match it. If they did so, Trafford would favour a return to the Etihad.

That might complicate matters for City, who would be left with four senior goalkeepers after signing Marcus Bettinelli to replace Scott Carson in June.

Guardiola's squad already has four too many 'foreign' players to fit in their Champions League squad and if they fail to find a buyer for Ederson or Ortega, then one of them would likely have to be left out.

For now, City are waiting to see how the situation around Ederson develops. He hinted during the Club World Cup that he would see out the final year of his contract, having strongly considered a move to Saudi Arabia a year ago, and Guardiola said earlier in the summer that he was happy with his goalkeeping situation.

But Trafford still has plenty of admirers at the Etihad, and his elevation to the England squad in June shows that he is a young goalkeeper going places. With his departure from Burnley seen as almost a certainty this summer, City have felt compelled to act and try to bring him back to the club.

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