James Trafford Emerges as Leeds United's Top Goalkeeping Target

James Trafford has moved to the top of Leeds United’s wish list as Daniel Farke hunts for a new No.1 this summer, with talks under way with Manchester City over a permanent deal.

Leeds’ goalkeeping department has been ripped apart in a matter of weeks. Karl Darlow, who finished last season as first choice, has left for Manchester United on a free transfer. Illan Meslier has gone too, snapped up by Arsenal. Two senior keepers out, no clear No.1 in.

That vacuum has pushed Trafford, 23, to centre stage. According to The Athletic, Leeds are now in active discussions with City to bring the England international to Elland Road, and the player is understood to favour the move despite strong interest from Newcastle United.

Newcastle’s pursuit of Trafford is not new. Eddie Howe’s side tried to land him last summer, only to see him choose a return to the Etihad from Burnley. Trafford went back believing he would inherit the gloves after Ederson’s move to Fenerbahce.

For a moment, that looked like the pathway. Then City changed the landscape. Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived late in the window, and Trafford’s route to the starting XI suddenly narrowed. He slipped to No.2 and spent the 2025/26 campaign as back-up.

He did not hide his frustration. Speaking in February, Trafford admitted that being second choice at City “wasn't what I expected” and that he had “tried to guard against the situation happening”. The reality was different. Even so, he still forced his way onto the pitch 17 times across all competitions and played his part in a domestic double, helping City lift both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

The medals have not dulled his ambition. Trafford wants what every serious goalkeeper wants at 23: a full season as an undisputed No.1 in the Premier League. Leeds, back in the top flight and short of a leader between the posts, can offer exactly that.

Farke is not completely empty-handed. Lucas Perri, signed from Lyon on a four-year deal last summer, remains on the books as the current No.2, with Alex Cairns in reserve. They are options, not answers. With the 2026/27 Premier League season approaching, Leeds know they need a clear first-choice goalkeeper, not a stopgap.

That is why Trafford’s preference matters. With the Cockermouth-born stopper leaning towards Elland Road, Newcastle have been forced to widen their search. Howe’s recruitment team are now weighing up alternatives, including Parma’s Zion Suzuki and Brighton’s Carl Rushworth, as they look for their own long-term solution.

Trafford’s appeal is obvious. At Burnley, he was the unquestioned No.1 for two seasons, anchoring a defence that conceded just 16 goals in 46 Championship matches in 2024/25 – a miserly record that underpinned their campaign. His rise continued on the international stage: he made his England debut in March, earned a second cap soon after, and travelled with Thomas Tuchel’s squad to the World Cup this summer.

For City, he has been a luxury. For Leeds, he could be a cornerstone.

If Farke and the Leeds hierarchy can now turn talks into a deal, Elland Road will belong to a young goalkeeper who has grown tired of watching from the bench and is ready to own a Premier League goalmouth.