Despite only being 19 years of age, James Trafford has already had to prove several doubters wrong during his relatively short career.
After making a mere 11 appearances for Accrington Stanley in League One, some started questioning whether the English goalkeeper had the minerals to be in the reckoning for a starting place at Manchester City one day.
However, the youngster’s decision to join Bolton Wanderers on loan in January for the second half of last season was nothing short of a resounding success.
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Starting all 19 possible league fixtures since his move across the North-West of Manchester, the highly-rated shot stopper quickly established his reputation as a fan favourite.
So much so that Trafford broke Simon Farnworth’s 39-year old record by becoming the first goalkeeper in Bolton history to keep a clean sheet in his first four games for the club.
While the Sky Blues fans have kept a close eye on the starlet’s development, who joined the club at just 12 years old, the million-dollar question remains whether he can make the grade at Manchester City in the future.
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With Ederson’s future tied to the Premier League champions until 2026, it is likely that the standout embodiment of the modern-day goalkeeper remains irreplaceable four years on from now as well.
However, a fresh update has emerged that showcases the club’s faith in the talent, who has re-joined Ian Evatt’s side on loan ahead of next season.
As per a report by The Bolton News, it is understood that James Trafford has ‘agreed’ a long-term contract extension with Manchester City.
It has been revealed that due to the England Under-21 international’s deal set to expire in 2023, Bolton are said to have hoped that they could sign the prodigious goalkeeper as a free agent next year.
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While an official announcement about Trafford extending his contract is pending from Manchester City, the Wanderers boss confirmed that the young buck has already signed on the dotted line.
“I think he’s signed a new contract, which is exceptional for him. We’ll be waiting a while for him I think!
"But that’s credit to him that he’s got that contract and also credit to us because we put him in a position where he was able to get that contract,” Evatt commented.
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With Gavin Bazunu joining Southampton on a permanent basis ahead of next season, this potentially gives James Trafford a clearer pathway to become the successor in mind for Ederson one day.
If the Manchester City prodigy continues to impress on such loan spells, it is likely that the club could entrust him to stand in between the sticks in the future.
Topics: Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
Srinivas Sadhanand