Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly intensifying their pursuit of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford following the club’s agreement to re-sign Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday. According to The Independent, Tottenham are ‘pushing’ to bring the England international to north London as Roberto De Zerbi continues to reshape his squad.
City’s decision to bring back Charles, a former youth player, has seemingly opened the door for Trafford’s departure. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the agreement with Sheffield Wednesday, stating that City will now decide whether to keep Charles within the first team setup or send him out on loan. TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reports that the Charles deal effectively gives Trafford the green light to seek a new club.
Tottenham are seeking a replacement for Guglielmo Vicario, who is expected to return to Serie A. While De Zerbi has expressed confidence in Antonin Kinsky, the club are prioritizing an upgrade in the goalkeeping position. Spurs have already been active in the transfer window, spending a combined £237 million on Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali, alongside free acquisitions of Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi.
However, Tottenham face competition for Trafford’s signature from several other Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Leeds United. Manchester City will likely seek to recoup at least the £31 million they paid to re-sign Trafford from Burnley last year. The 26-year-old has established himself as a promising talent and his availability presents an opportunity for multiple clubs to strengthen their goalkeeping options. The arrival of Swiss veteran Yann Sommer is also being considered by City as a potential replacement for Trafford.
De Zerbi’s ambition to overhaul the Tottenham squad extends to the wing position, with Cody Gakpo of Liverpool and Savinho of Manchester City also on their radar. Securing Trafford would represent a significant step in solidifying the team’s defensive foundations as they prepare for the upcoming season.
