Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has suffered a setback, with the 23-year-old reportedly favouring a move to Newcastle United. According to The Northern Echo, Trafford, who was a target for Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, has accepted he will need to leave City to secure regular first-team football and is now leaning towards a transfer to St James’ Park.
Trafford joined Manchester City last summer from Burnley but spent the 2025/26 season as understudy to Gianluigi Donnarumma. City are reportedly willing to sell the England international for £40million, and are actively seeking a replacement, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles identified as a potential signing. Tottenham had shown a strong interest in Trafford, viewing him as a potential long-term solution in goal, but face an uphill battle to convince him to choose North London.
Tottenham currently have four goalkeepers on their books: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin, and Martin Dubravka, who recently joined as a free agent. Vicario is expected to depart this summer, potentially paving the way for Kinsky to become the first-choice keeper. Dubravka would provide experienced cover, though Austin’s limited first-team experience – just three appearances for the club – suggests he is unlikely to feature prominently.
Despite missing out on Trafford, Tottenham are continuing to strengthen their squad elsewhere. They remain in advanced talks to sign Savinho from Manchester City, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Brazilian winger is also keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Romano stated that a deal could be completed quickly, contingent on negotiations between the two clubs regarding a transfer fee. Tottenham have been consistently linked with Savinho for over a year, and De Zerbi appears to be a strong admirer of the player’s potential. The pursuit of Savinho suggests Tottenham are determined to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season, even if their goalkeeping plans have hit a snag.
