What next for James Trafford at Man City? Transfer conundrum, Pep Guardiola twist, final vindication

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Manchester City star showed his credentials in the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal but uncertainty remains over his long-term future at the Etihad

James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma get on really well at Manchester City - but there's surely only room for one of then at the Etihad long-term.

Donnarumma is Pep Guardiola's first choice, having signed in August, usurping Trafford after his summer arrival from Burnley. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Trafford who had firm interest from Newcastle only for City to exercise their matching rights from the deal that took the keeper from the Blues to Burnley in the first place.

Trafford has since had a watching brief in the Premier League but at Wembley on Sunday he sent a reminder of his talents with a stunning triple save in the opening minutes to deny Arsenal. The 23-year-old went on to keep a clean sheet as City won the Carabao Cup.

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"This moment, means a lot to me," the City keeper said after Sunday's final. "Four or five years ago when they beat Spurs to win it, I think I was fourth or fifth choice, and I always imagined that I would win it one day."

City, after being second best in the opening 20 minutes, stamped their authority on the final and largely kept Arsenal at arm's length. A lot was made of the Gunners' set-piece superiority ahead of kick off - something Trafford acknowledged pre-match was a strength but said 'I've experienced a lot harder things in lower leagues' - and Mikel Arteta's men couldn't impose themselves at Wembley.

Trafford was relatively untroubled after his early heroics and was able to reflect on the cup final faith shown in him by Guardiola after the match.

"It means a lot to have his faith, and it’s a testament to how I believed in myself, and how I acted in training, when I’ve been brought in for club games," he said. "Every time that I play I just give it my best shot."

The issue facing Trafford now is what next? The weekend underlined that this is a player too good to be number two, yet Donnarumma has only just turned 27 and could easily have another decade at the highest level.

Logic dictates that Trafford will make way and perhaps seek a summer move, but the uncertainty of Pep Guardiola's future will play a part. The Blues boss has a contract until 2027 but speculation remains that he could call it a day this summer.

If he did, then Trafford could be handed a route back into the team. It would still be something of a surprise for a new manager to arrive at the Etihad and jettison Donnarumma but Trafford is the superior ball-playing keeper. Indeed Guardiola himself ditched Joe Hart, the clear first choice upon the Catalan's arrival, for similar reasons.

Trafford and Donnarumma are close off the pitch but rivals on it. "It’s been really tough at times," said the former Bolton and Burnley keeper of playing second fiddle. "It hasn’t been easy at all. But I have a really good set of people around me. My teammates and my coaches have been brilliant. They have kept me going."

It remains to be seen if he will be departing City in the summer.