Geronimo! Are Leeds United finally going to be able to complete James Trafford deal?
Manchester City have reached reportedly an agreement with Marseille to sign goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, allowing Leeds United to finally complete the signing of James Trafford.
From the moment City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma last September, it looked likely Trafford's second spell at the club would be a short one, and once Newcastle United dropped out of the race, a move to Elland Road has seemed inevitable.
But the Whites have been unable to unveil the man who will be their club record signing until City signed a replacement.
Having seen an initial £1.7m offer rejected, Marseille are said to have accepted an offer much closer to their £3m valuation of a 34-year-old in the final year of his contract.
Trafford came through the ranks at City, leaving for Burnley in 2023, initially on a season-long loan. City exercised their buy-back clause to re-sign the Cumbrian last summer.
The expectation at the time was that he was coming to replace Ederson as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, but the arrival of Donnarumma on deadline day meant that although Trafford was the regular goalkeeper as City won both domestic cups, he did not play again in the Premier or Champions League until the final day of the season, a dead rubber for the Manchester club.
It did not cost Trafford a place in England's World Cup squad, but he was one of only two players not to make it onto the field during the tournament.
Leeds are thought to have agreed a £40m price – around £5m more than they paid Hoffenheim for Georginio Rutter – and it was reported on Thursday morning that the 23-year-old was having a medical ahead of a move.
Leeds' Premier League season begins at Nottingham Forest on August 22.