Premier League trio plotting exit route for James Trafford after Manchester City future comments<\/p>\n
Aston Villa are among several Premier League teams eyeing a move for Manchester City second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, as per a new report.<\/strong><\/p>\n Trafford, 23, returned to the Etihad Stadium from Burnley last summer after an impressive, record-breaking season at Turf Moor that saw him concede just 16 goals in his second and final season at the club.<\/p>\n As a result of such dominance between the sticks, Scott Parker\u2019s side secured promotion to the Premier League but missed out on the title to Leeds United, who peaked the EFL Championship table on goal difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trafford\u2019s return to his youth club Manchester City was seen as a huge turning point for Pep Guardiola\u2019s side, whose transition from Ederson \u2013 perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world with a ball at his feet \u2013 raised concerns about how the defensive line would cope moving forward.<\/p>\n Although Trafford is one of England\u2019s best prospects at present, last summer\u2019s deadline day arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain has marred the personal hope that the Englishman would be Guardiola\u2019s number one in Manchester.<\/p>\n Trafford expressed frustration over his game-time situation at City<\/a> after keeping a clean sheet in Saturday\u2019s FA Cup fourth round win over Salford City, an interview that has since heavily divided opinion among the fanbase and sparked talk over an inevitable parting of ways in the summer.<\/p>\n Trafford was linked with numerous clubs in January but City opted to sell Stefan Ortega Moreno to Nottingham Forest instead, with Guardiola praising Trafford for his reliability<\/a> recently after refusing to sanction a mid-season exit for his backup goalkeeper.<\/p>\n City could soon find themselves in goalkeeper turmoil however, with Football Insider<\/a> reporting that Trafford has been monitored closely by Premier League competitors, including Aston Villa.<\/p>\n Trafford will weigh up his options ahead of the window as he seeks a better guarantee of playing time at the highest level, having admitted that it has not worked to plan this season at Manchester City following his return to his boyhood club.<\/p>\n