Gianluigi Donnarumma: James Trafford’s No. 1 verdict cleared the way for Man City to acquire “one of the greatest.”

According to Esteemed Kompany’s Citizens expert Steven McInerney, James Trafford “would back himself in a battle against anyone” for the No. 1 jersey at Manchester City, but he is probably going to be content to play as Ederson’s or Gianluigi Donnarumma’s backup.

Trafford was sold to Burnley after eight years in Man City’s academy from 2015 to 2023. He was a standout first-choice goalkeeper for Burnley before returning to the Etihad Stadium this summer for an estimated £27 million.

Last weekend, Man City easily defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in the Premier League, and their new number one kept a clean sheet while making his Premier League debut.

Goalie Ederson, who is rumored to have missed out due to illness, was replaced by Trafford in goal. Trafford has been heavily linked to a move to Galatasaray, with reports indicating that the Turkish powerhouses have made an offer of €10 million (£8.6 million).

In the event that Man City agrees to sell Ederson this summer, it is believed that Pep Guardiola’s team will increase their interest in Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain, who is expected to depart the French powerhouse after a contract dispute and exclusion from Luis Enrique’s team.

There are concerns regarding Trafford’s, 22, place in Guardiola’s starting lineup given the possible arrival of Donnarumma, 26, who is considered to be among the best goalkeepers in the world of football.

After a dominant performance against Wolves, McInerney thought Trafford “looked like he belonged” as Man City’s starting goalkeeper. While he would like to see the academy graduate solidify his position in goal, playing as an understudy seems likely whether Ederson or Donnarumma is at the club after the September 1 transfer deadline.

“If Ederson had left, I don’t think Trafford wouldn’t have known that City would be looking for a keeper,” McInerney told Sports Mole. “I don’t believe that City or their new football director, Hugo Viana, would have misled him.

Given the person he is, I believe they would have informed him that there is always a chance for top players to join, and I would have already guessed James Trafford.

That’s the reason he’s at Manchester City in the first place, and I believe there’s a sense that things won’t be simple if you visit City. There is a distinct element of “this is the bed you’ve made, you’ve got to lie in it” because it’s Manchester City and not Burnley, even though I am aware that goalkeepers only have one spot and one opportunity to enter the field.

“He doesn’t have a lot of Premier League experience, and it was never going to be his job to come in and take City’s number one player, Ederson or Donnarumma, and do it right away.

“I think he was always going to have to wait a little bit and the rumours were that he was going to be number two behind Ederson for this season anyway. Having said that, we’ve just watched him and it’s annoying to watch him be so comfortable against Wolves.

“He’s not 10 out of 10 with the ball at his feet, but he’s pretty good and he didn’t do anything wrong. He played a lovely pass to [Tijjani] Reijnders for that third goal and he also looks really good at commanding his area.

“A couple of chances were offside, but there were still big saves and one in particular I felt that maybe Ederson might have not got a hand to because it was a really powerful save from a one-on-one when [Trafford] spread himself nicely.

“He looked for all intents and purposes like Manchester City’s number one. He is on the back of the shirt. He looked like he belonged there and that is the reaction you want to see I guess from a young goalkeeper surrounded by rumours of this established keeper coming in.

“All he can do is – it’s cliche – is play as well as he can and hopefully get the shirt. I would love to see him as City’s number one. I am incredibly biased. I’ve been watching James Trafford in the academy for an awful long time, I know how much he loves Manchester City and I just prefer that story, it’s more romantic to me.”

Although McInerney is a big fan of Trafford, he would not object to Man City replacing Ederson with Donnarumma, “one of the greatest” goalkeepers in the world, who was crucial to PSG’s victory in the French domestic treble and their first-ever Champions League trophy the previous season.

Giovanni Donnarumma is among the best. “He’s practically a living legend,” McInerney remarked. He is only 26 years old and has been playing for ten years. He is among the best keepers in the area.

“City may require a minor adjustment to our strategy because he won’t be able to pass the ball across his backline as easily as other keepers, but we cannot dispute the exceptional caliber of his pedigree.

When PSG won the treble in the Champions League, we witnessed him come to life. He has practically won shootouts for Italy, as we have seen. On his day, Donnarumma is a unique keeper.

“I believe Trafford might be a better fit for Donnarumma, but if we sign a keeper of Donnarumma’s caliber, I won’t sit here and gripe. This is something I assume Guardiola has considered.

He has undoubtedly considered the distinctions between Donnarumma and Ederson, and he is aware of them.

When it came to Wolves, City was far more straightforward. They were far more inclined to strike more quickly. I believe Guardiola and his team are aware that City cannot build up as gradually and cautiously with Donnarumma if he joins, so they are content to pass the ball to the midfielders and be a little more straightforward with it because that is the only course of action.

Some would contend that if Trafford and a possible new player, like Donnarumma, were to alternate throughout the season, Guardiola would have a difficult time keeping them both satisfied, and City should be afraid that one might leave if they were dissatisfied with their playing time.

“There’s always that fear [but] I do believe [Trafford] was aware that he was going to be number two this season anyway, so nothing’s really changed there,” McInerney said, sharing his thoughts. Ederson would always be ahead of him, and playing for Manchester City doesn’t mean you don’t get any football.

Stefan Ortega isn’t just playing three or four games a season; he’s made 56 appearances for City over the course of three seasons, and his number has been gradually increasing. There are about 20 games played there each season, and aside from the other cup runs, Ederson was essentially everywhere during the first season, so he didn’t play much.

If City does well in the cup competitions, James Trafford will likely play 10 to 15 games. He will also get some football in the occasional game that we don’t expect him to play for whatever reason.

“I know it might be a problem come summertime, but he might be content to give it another year or so (as a number two).” He’s training with some of the best in the world, and he will get better. Guardiola’s contract has just two years left on it. He might be open to staying and following the next manager’s lead.

City [effectively] paid just £13 million to re-sign Trafford if we sell him, so it’s not like it’s a complete financial catastrophe. I believe he has the quality, so it would be a great shame, but we’ll have to wait and see.

He talks a lot about wanting to be the best, play with the best, and other such things, but he needs to support his claims to some degree. You have to be better than Donnarumma if you truly believe that you will be Manchester City’s number one, as he has stated in public on numerous occasions, even when he was a young player.