James Trafford told to reject Leeds United amid big Gianluigi Donnarumma claim

As James Trafford closes in on a transfer to Leeds United, former England goalkeeper David James has advised the 23-year-old to stay at Manchester City.

Leeds are in talks over a move to Elland Road, one that could potentially solve the club’s ‘keeping situation for years to come.

Leeds have seen Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow leave in the last few weeks and have only Lucas Perri and back-up Alex Cairns as options.

For that reason they have been linked with the likes of Zion Suzuki and Jacob Widell Zetterstrom – as well as City’s Trafford.

Newcastle and Aston Villa no longer seem to be in the running and the former Burnley stopper could well be on his way.

However, James, who played City as well as the likes of Villa and Liverpool, reckons he should stay where he is – as long as he can get enough football to challenge Jordan Pickford in the England set-up.

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“If I were him, I would stay and try and fight for my place,” James told Grosvenor Sport. “What he has demonstrated when he has played, he has been superb. I mean, there are a couple of league games granted, and I think he only played four league games in the end.

“But definitely in the cups, where he is playing under pressure, especially at Wembley in front of 90,000 people in tough games, he has handled that pressure extremely well.

“I think Man City look a more controlled side when he is playing. I love Donnarumma, I think he is a fantastic goalkeeper, but I think with James Trafford, there's a lot more scope for Man City to play and I think, depending on how Maresca wants to set his thing up, James Trafford would be my number one there.

“However, if Maresca or the club thought that James wasn't going to be the number one, then I think he would have to move on because, as you say, Jordan Pickford, excellent as he is, needs a proper challenger from someone who is playing regularly in a first team.

“The question for James Trafford is where would he go? Would it be one of the promoted sides where he could be under pressure again like he was when he was at Burnley in that relegation season, or would there be a bigger club looking for a goalkeeper of his stature? Maybe Newcastle or Leeds? And I think all the boxes could be ticked with James Trafford.

“So first of all, stay at the club. You're not going to get much bigger than Manchester City. Well, actually, you're not going to get as successful as Man City over the last five or six years. So yeah, I would stay, but if not, then he has got to be playing to get that England number one spot.”