Leeds United are in advanced negotiations with Manchester City for goalkeeper James Trafford in a deal worth in excess of £35million.Newcastle United, who have spoken to City in recent weeks about Trafford and tried previously to sign him, are now exploring other options.The 23-year-old’s representatives wish to insert a release clause in any new deal with the expectation that higher placed clubs will be in the market for the England goalkeeper’s services further down the line.Personal terms will not be an issue with Leeds’ owners paying competitive salaries.Trafford joined City last summer in a £27million move from Burnley, just two years after City sold him for £14m, and they expect a substantial profit plus sell-on.Trafford was expecting to take the No 1 jersey when he signed for Pep Guardiola but was sidelined when City seized an opportunity to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St Germain. Leeds are in talks to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, a year after he joinedTrafford ended up playing just four times under Guardiola in the league, but a further 13 cup games as they won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.City are now looking to add another goalkeeper as cover for Donnarumma as they negotiate the fee they want for Trafford.They are continuing discussions with Lille also over a prospective £85million deal for Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.The 18-year-old’s arrival, alongside that of £116m signing Elliot Anderson, would be timely with Rodri due to miss the start of the season with back surgery.The Spain captain has also yet to agree on a new contract and has one year remaining.City announced Anderson’s arrival from Nottingham Forest yesterday in a deal that made him the second-most expensive British player ever, behind Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea for £117m.The 23-year-old Anderson signed a six year contract and said: ‘City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing – so strong in every position. As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen.’As a footballer, you want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity.’From the outside looking in, City are a club that treats its players well and provides the perfect environment to excel. The success they have had and the way they have played the game in the last 10 to 15 years has been extraordinary. It’s a privilege to be given the chance to be part of that.’City also want to add a winger and a right-back.Can Trafford relaunch his career??How did it go so wrong for Trafford at his boyhood club? It’s only been a year since he re-joined City, but the goalkeeper already seems set to leave the club in search of more playing time.?It could have been so different. Trafford came through the academy at City, and after impressing in a loan spell at Bolton Wanderers and then subsequently at Burnley in both the Premier League and Championship, he returned believing he was going to be the No1 at the club.?But that’s not how it panned out. Trafford only made three Premier League appearances for the Citizens before he was demoted to No2 after the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, and only four in total.?’It wasn’t what I expected coming into the season, and I tried to guard against the situation happening, but it’s the reality,’ Trafford said following a rare appearance against Salford City in the FA Cup last season.?Now, if the move goes through, Trafford has the chance to relaunch his career at Leeds. The statistics show that before his disappointing spell back in Manchester, he was on the road to being a top goalkeeper. Hence, City bought him back.?His performances on loan at both Bolton and Accrington Stanley, where he also spent a season on loan, earned the now England international a move to Burnley for £19m. Trafford was initially brought back to City as No1 but only made three Premier League appearances before he was replaced by Gianluigi Donnarumma Trafford showed his true potential when at Burnley in the Championship in the 2024-25 season?After a bumpy start at the Clarets, in which he conceded 62 goals in 28 starts – and kept only two clean sheets – as they were relegated from the Premier League, Trafford showed his true potential between the sticks.?As Burnley secured promotion from the Championship in the 2024-25 campaign, earning 100 points, Trafford broke John Ruddy and Paddy Kenny’s clean sheet record with a remarkable 29 shutouts in 45 games. He only shipped a record-breaking 16 goals in those matches.?In that season, Trafford remarkably managed to avoid conceding a single goal between December 22, 2024 and March 4, 2025. In that time, he managed 12 consecutive clean sheets, beating the previous record of nine.?While Burnley ended up being pipped to the title by Leeds United that season, losing out on goal difference, Trafford was awarded the EFL Championship Player’s Player of the season for his heroics in goal.?Trafford’s record-breaking season for the Clarets led to City triggering the buy-back clause they initially included in his sale, wrestling off competition from Newcastle.While he may not have featured much in the top flight following Donnarumma’s arrival, Trafford played every game on City’s path to securing their ninth Carabao Cup.?Trafford saved 88 per cent of the shots he faced during the competition, only conceding two goals and keeping four clean sheets, including one in the final against Arsenal.?His 14 appearances in all competitions for City have shown he can still cut it at the top level, and he will be looking to relaunch his career in full if he completes the move to Yorkshire.