Can £40m James Trafford challenge Jordan Pickford as England number one?
Goalkeeper James Trafford is nearing a £40m transfer to Leeds United, sparking debate about his potential to challenge Jordan Pickford for the England number one spot. Despite limited Premier League experience, his high transfer fee reflects his perceived potential and past performance in the Championship.
Why it matters
The transfer highlights the significant financial investment clubs are willing to make in young talent and the ongoing competition for the England national team's starting goalkeeper position.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, James Trafford made 17 appearances for Manchester City last season
Since the 2018 World Cup, Jordan Pickford has been a fixture in the England team.
He has kept 44 clean sheets in his 91 caps and has made 33 major tournament appearances, including two European Championship finals.
But the Everton goalkeeper will be 34 by the time Euro 2028 begins - so it is reasonable to consider who could eventually take over from him.
The other goalkeepers in England's World Cup squad were Crystal Palace 's Dean Henderson - who was probably regarded as Pickford's understudy as he played in the third-place play-off - and James Trafford of Manchester City .
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