“World class” Manchester City summer signing already looking to leave the club in January

The Etihad. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

Manchester City had a relatively busy summer in the transfer market, reshaping key areas of their squad.

They said goodbye to club legend Kevin De Bruyne, who made a shock move to Napoli, as well as Jack Grealish, while bringing in the likes of Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.

But the most dramatic business came in goal.

City splashed out on James Trafford — the young keeper Scott Parker once labelled “world class” — with plans for him to become their long-term No.1 after his outstanding season at Burnley.

Then, in a stunning late twist, City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian instantly claimed the starting role, leaving Trafford suddenly and unexpectedly sidelined.

According to reports from the Mail Online, James Trafford is already assessing his options ahead of the January window.

The 23-year-old joined City for £27 million after being assured he would become first choice, especially with Ederson moving on to Fenerbahce. City even triggered a matching-rights clause to beat Newcastle to his signature — and the Magpies are expected to return for him next month.

Part of Trafford’s summer discussions centred on the belief that regular Premier League football at City would help him challenge Jordan Pickford for England’s No.1 spot.

But his slow, stop-start beginning back at the Etihad, combined with Donnarumma’s immediate arrival, now puts his international prospects at risk. Thomas Tuchel has made it clear that players must be featuring consistently to stay in contention.

In truth, it’s one of the strangest transfer situations of the season. You can’t help but feel for Trafford — promised the keys to the future, only to lose them overnight. But a January move may be exactly what he needs, and perhaps what England needs too.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.