Guardiola Predicts Trafford's Future as England's Top Goalkeeper
Manchester City's James Trafford is destined to become England's number one goalkeeper, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
At just 23 years old, Trafford began the season as the first-choice goalkeeper after rejoining the club from Burnley this summer. He played in the first three Premier League matches but has since been on the bench following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day.
Having participated in the Carabao Cup third-round victory against Huddersfield, Trafford is expected to return to action for Wednesday's match against Swansea in the same competition (19:45 GMT).
Guardiola commented on the situation, stating, "The keeper is a special situation because typically only one plays, while the second does not. All I can say is we are delighted with his behavior in training. We aim to progress in this competition to ensure all players are ready in case we need them for the Premier League and the Champions League."
Everton's Jordan Pickford, who has earned 80 caps, is currently England's undisputed number one goalkeeper and is enjoying a record run of nine consecutive clean sheets. However, there is some debate about who holds the title of the most expensive British goalkeeper. City sources claim Trafford's transfer fee in July was £27 million plus add-ons, while Burnley sources state the figure was £31 million plus add-ons and a sell-on clause. The latter amount would surpass the previous record of £30 million that Everton paid Sunderland for Pickford in 2017.
Guardiola mentioned he has spoken to Trafford and other players regarding concerns about playing time in a World Cup year. Although Trafford has yet to earn a senior England cap, he has been called up for the last four national squads after helping the Under-21 team win the 2023 European Championship without conceding a goal.
Guardiola added, "We have an incredible goalkeeper. Sooner or later, he will be the one for England. I am confident that Gigi learns from James and James learns from Gigi. The goalkeepers are always connected."
Haaland Likely to Be Rested for Swansea Match
Erling Haaland was seen limping heavily during Sunday's defeat to Aston Villa after colliding with a post while having a goal disallowed for offside. Guardiola indicated that the match against Swansea presents an opportunity to rest the Norwegian striker, with Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki in line to start in his place.
He further stated, "I haven't seen Erling today, but it was just a knock, and he is improving day by day. We will train this afternoon, assess how he feels, and decide if he can play." Meanwhile, midfielder Rodri is training and is "getting better" after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the international break, although he remains unavailable for selection.