Exclusive:Manchester City's James Trafford tipped to 'strengthen' Leeds United as verdict on out-of-contract trio issued
The verdict of a former Leeds United winger on the possibility of Manchester City’s James Trafford arriving at Elland Road
Leeds United would be strengthened by the arrival of James Trafford from Manchester City, believes former Whites winger Lee Sharpe.
Trafford is considered among the brightest young goalkeepers in Europe and rejoined Manchester City last summer after a stellar spell with Burnley.
The return has not pushed the 23-year-old on to the next level, as he has been forced to play second-fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
His lack of action has led to speculation over his future and Leeds are among the clubs to have been credited with interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
James Trafford tipped to strengthen Leeds United
“I think Trafford to come in would definitely strengthen Leeds,” Sharpe told The Yorkshire Post. “I certainly think Trafford would be a strong addition to the squad.
“I think Daniel Farke is a pretty wise manager and knows what he's talking about. I'm sure he knows the goalkeeping situation and has already got a list if that's what he's looking for.”
Links to Trafford have emerged amid uncertainty over the goalkeeping department at Leeds, with three of the club’s four senior stoppers due to see their deals run out this summer.
Current number one Karl Darlow, as well as back-ups Illan Meslier and Alex Cairns, are only contracted until the end of the current campaign. Lucas Perri, who was signed to be the number one last summer, has a deal that runs until 2029 but has not made a Premier League appearance since January.
Contract uncertainty at Leeds United
Reports have suggested Darlow could be retained by the Whites but Sharpe has been left to wonder why there his deal has been allowed to edge so close to expiry.
“I think he's (Darlow) a very competent ‘keeper,” said Sharpe. “I think he looked steady [in the 2-1 win over Manchester United].
“I think if they were going to keep any of the ‘keepers there already, I think contract talks would have been done and dusted by now. I don't think you let people run this close to the end of the contract without knowing what you're doing with them.”
Darlow joined Leeds from Newcastle in the summer of 2023 and has dislodged both Meslier and Perri as Farke’s stopper of choice.
Meslier has been on the books at Elland Road since 2019 but has endured a fall from prominence in recent years. The Frenchman has not made a competitive appearance for Leeds since March last year, when he blundered twice in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City.
Cairns, a product of the Leeds academy, was re-signed by the club in the summer of 2024. He has played a key role behind the scenes but has not been afforded a ‘second debut’ for the Whites.