Manchester City and Manchester United want the same midfielder this summer, and United have also been linked to a former City player

Manchester City and Manchester United both want to sign Elliot Anderson this summer, pitting the two Premier League giants against each other. It was reported yesterday in the Manchester Evening News that the Blues believe they have won the race, but United will keep fighting for a player that has caught the eye as one of the best midfielders in the league.

Another player to stand out at the weekend was former City midfielder Shea Charles, who scored the winner for Southampton as they dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup. Having started to think about a potential Quadruple, their fans are now all in on the Premier League and Champions League after two defeats in a row in the domestic cup competitions.

Charles has impressed after leaving City in 2023 for an initial £10.5m having made just one senior appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side. There were also an extra £4.5m that could be met in performance-related payments and the 22-year-old has found his feet at St Mary’s this season after spending last year on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

It is being claimed that United are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Charles in the summer. More than one midfielder is wanted this summer at Old Trafford, and their director of football Jason Wilcox joined Southampton when they signed Charles and a host of City academy players.

Should United or any other club take the plunge on Charles this summer, they will be indirectly giving millions to City. On top of the fees that the Blues have already banked for the Northern Ireland international, they inserted a sell-on clause that will give them 25 per cent of any profit that Southampton make on Charles; a £25m fee would mean City got £2.5m, for instance.

The biggest transfer battle in the summer window will be Forest’s Anderson as both clubs look to land a marquee signing. But whatever happens there, United could end up boosting City’s balance sheet if they follow up their interest in Charles.

Southampton beat fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham on Tuesday night to improve their chances of a return to the Premier League and are finishing the season as one of the form teams ahead of the play-offs. A promotion could increase Southampton’s chances of keeping Charles, although it would also increase his fee for any interested buyers.

GRAND NATIONAL 2026: Get your 48-page guide for just £3.99

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson would prefer a move to Manchester City ahead of Manchester United, according to reports.

Anderson is one of the most in-demand players ahead of the summer transfer window having established himself as one the best midfielders in the Premier League with his impressive performances for Forest this season.

The 23-year-old is also on course to secure a place in England’s World Cup squad this summer following his solid midfield displays under Thomas Tuchel.

Anderson, who joined Forest in a £35 million deal from Newcastle United in 2024, has attracted interest from City, United and Chelsea.

However, The Mirror reports that City believe they have won the race to sign Anderson this summer and are confident they can agree a £65m fee with Forest.

The report adds that City are well aware of United’s interest but Anderson has Anderson ‘has let it be known’ that his preferred choice is a move to Pep Guardiola’s side.

City are also keen to complete a deal for Anderson before the start of the World Cup in order to avoid a bidding war with rival Premier League clubs.

Speaking earlier this week, Rio Ferdinand insisted that United should make the signing of Anderson their priority for the summer window.

‘Guimaraes and Tonali wouldn’t be my first-choice midfield signings this summer,’ Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents YouTube channel.

‘It’s Elliot Anderson. His age, he’s 23 years old… Guimaraes is 28 and Tonali is 25, soon to be 26, so that counts for a lot for me. I want young, hungry players in my squad.

‘He complements Mainoo. I think Mainoo is going to be one of the main players in the team now, they’re going to build around him and I think Elliot Anderson absolutely complements him.’

‘Anderson has that ability, that energy to get around the park, he’s aggressive. We need those legs. And he wins the ball. He’s more combative than the other two.

‘Elliot Anderson is the only player to win over 150 duels, win possession more than 150 times, and win at least 50 fouls in the Premier League, the whole Premier League I must add, this season. They’re my reasons why, guys.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Man Utd eyeing £20m star as search widens for midfield reinforcements

MORE: Chelsea urged to sign ‘phenomenal’ Real Madrid star after huge transfer mistake

MORE: Gareth Barry names club that will deny Arsenal the Champions League

Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City in the summer when his contract expires and he will have plenty of suitors

Bernardo Silva’s time at Manchester City is coming to an end. The Blues skipper is set to depart in the summer when his contract expires. It’s a move that has been expected but one that was confirmed by City assistant boss Pep Lijnders when speaking after the FA Cup victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola will likely expand on Silva’s future and legacy when he faces the media on Friday ahead of the Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

The Etihad boss is a huge fan of Silva and knows the difficulty the Blues will have in replacing not just the player but the person with the Portugal international’s leadership and standard-setting two values that are highly regarded at City.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

For Bernardo, he is now into the final few weeks of his City career and will then head to the World Cup with Portugal. Where he is playing his club football next season remains to be seen but he won’t be short of options.

Serie A side Juventus are keen on the 31-year-old, although it remains to be seen if the Italians could make a deal work financially. Barcelona are long-term admirers of Silva but have had cashflow problems of their own in recent years.

Both clubs would be able to allow Silva to continue to operate at the top table domestically and in Europe with the pair both Champions League regulars.

Silva has long spoken about a desire to return to former club Benfica but feels this summer would be too soon for a return to his homeland and would likely come further down the line.

A number of other European clubs would likely be keen on the midfielder, who will depart the Premier League after nine years with City and countless trophies.

Further afield, he will have his suitors in America with MLS side Inter Miami – home to Lionel Messi – perhaps a predictable link that has already emerged. That move would be a difficult one to achieve financially but other sides across the Atlantic will certainly be interested in Silva.

It’s a similar situation in the Saudi Pro League. His Portugal teammates Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix and Rúben Neves all play in Saudi Arabia and a reunion with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr has also been floated. But any such deal would require an exit because the club’s allocation of 10 foreign players is already full.

Wherever Silva ends up next season he will be missed at City.

Manchester City assistant Pep Lijnders confirmed this weekend that Bernardo Silva would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.

Manchester City fans had braced themselves for Bernardo Silva’s departure this summer and now the news has been confirmed. The 31-year-old has been ever-present for the Blues, making 450 appearances and counting for Pep Guardiola’s men.

All of those appearances have come under Guardiola and his assistant Pep Lijnders admitted replacing the 31-year-old would be impossible. “You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist. Bernardo Silva is unique,” he explained. “The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions.

“All these things. You never search for a replacement of one type of player. You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first XI.”

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

City will still need to sign at least one midfielder to fill the gap left behind by Bernardo. MEN Sport has taken a look at three options the Blues could look at to replace their captain.

Leon Goretzka – Bayern Munich

The Germany international joined Bayern two years after Guardiola left the Bundesliga. He has been integral as the Bavarian club continued to dominate Germany. Goretzka is the same age as Bernardo and would add experience to a relatively young side next season.

His style is similar to Bernardo’s. Goretzka wants to carry the ball forward and, like Bernardo, wants to play forward passes at every given opportunity.

Goretzka would also be free, having agreed to leave Bayern at the end of his contract. The risk for City is that he has not played as many minutes as Bernardo this season and has never played outside of Germany.

The Bundesliga is one of the most physical divisions outside the Premier League so that could play to his favour. But City would need him to play more games if he is to be a credible Bernardo replacement.

Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United

If Newcastle miss out on the Champions League football, it is difficult to see them keeping Tonali. At 25, the Italian is entering the prime of his career and is more than good enough to play for one of the top teams.

Tonali has mainly been used as a defensive midfielder this season but has the attributes to play alongside a holding player like Rodri. He doesn’t carry the ball as much as Bernardo but a large part of that is due to playing deeper in Eddie Howe’s system.

Like Bernardo, he is trying to make forward passes when he gets the ball and Guardiola could turn him into a replacement for the captain. The trouble for City will be his price tag.

Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson insisted last week that clubs would need to play by their terms in the transfer market, but fell short of communicating a price tag for Tonali. Whether City would want to pay £80m plus for the Italy international remains to be seen.

Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest

Anderson could be a very wise investment if Forest are relegated this season. The former Newcastle midfielder has enjoyed a stellar campaign despite Forest’s struggles and is almost guaranteed to be leaving the East Midlands in the summer.

Like Bernardo, Anderson’s strengths are progressive and forward passes. However, he also wins a high percentage of duels and wins back possession considerably more than the current City captain.

At 23, he is also the youngest option on the list, but he does not lack experience. One area where he struggles compared to Bernardo is carrying the ball forward but this could be worked on.

If Forest avoid relegation, they will want £100m for Anderson. That is a hefty sum but the England international would add a new dimension to City’s midfield.

Rodri spoke during the international break about his interest in perhaps playing for Real Madrid one day, sparking debate over his Manchester City future.

Rodri fanned the flames of a potential Manchester City transfer exit during the international break when he gave an interview in Spain about being open to the prospect of one day playing for Real Madrid.

The midfielder has 18 months to run on his current City deal and there remains a degree of uncertainty as to whether he will extend his stay at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola was asked about the situation in his press conference on Friday and reiterated the club stance is that they want the 29-year-old to commit his future to the Blues.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

The decision will come down to Rodri himself, with City never a club to stand in the way of a player who wants to leave. And it all adds up to an unknown situation that will need to be resolved soon.

So what exactly does it all mean for City and Rodri? Our City experts Simon Bajkowski and Alex James dissected the topic on the latest Talking City podcast.

“I don’t think Rodri’s comments change anything in that Real Madrid will still want him as they have wanted him for ages,” said Bajkowski. “And Rodri will be fully aware of that and will never in an interview shut the door on a return to Spain, ahead of a World Cup in the summer as well when he is going to be representing Spain.

“At the same time, he is in an uncertain position because nobody is sure whether he is going to renew at City or not.

“I think it (a scenario where he is sold in the summer) exists. They have to be open to it. Obviously Rodri doesn’t owe them anything but I think the club feel that they gave him such support first and foremost for the Ballon d’Or. They treated him like an absolute king at a time when the biggest club in the world (Real Madrid) was doing everything to denigrate it and say it wasn’t a proper Ballon d’Or. City treated Rodri royally. And also through his injury, they have helped and supported him. I feel like this season they have listened to Rodri (on his fitness).

“If he wants to go this summer he will go but if he does, the club would like to think they would get a fee that reflects the player that he is and will be next season and beyond, but also the support that they have given him over the last few years.”

The decision could also hinge on what happens with the future of Guardiola, who has a deal until the summer of 2027 but has yet to fully commit to continuing past this season, and Bernardo Silva who is set to depart when his contract expires in June.

“Losing Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and I appreciate they are not what they were and might not be again, but that would be a vacuum of talent, experience, know-how, experience and leadership,” said City writer James. “Loads of things that are very difficult to replace.

Man City vs Liverpool VIP and hospitality tickets

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £179

Seat Unique

Book tickets here

Seat Unique offers hospitality packages for Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool, including ‘premium’ seats and complimentary food and drink.

“They would have to go and sign somebody, and they may well go and sign Elliot Anderson and they might sign someone else instead or as well, but it would be a big gamble to lose Rodri and Bernardo in the same summer.

“Rodri has started to look back to somewhere near his best. He looks back in a rhythm, is dictating play a bit more. And a lot of this will have to do with Pep, that has to be factored in and there might be an answer on that yet.”

This week’s Q&A takes a look at the World Cup and any impact it could have on Manchester City’s summer transfer business

06:00, 02 Apr 2026

Manchester City are champions again. A 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final did a lot to make up for what had been a disappointing March and Pep Guardiola’s side will now look to kick on in the final weeks of the season.

They are back in action against Liverpool this weekend in an FA Cup quarter-final and then have to try and hunt down Arsenal in the Premier League title race. With so much going on at the club, we’ll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.

The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City’s schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

This week we are looking at the summer transfer window as well as the state of play ahead of the World Cup and the impact that could have on City. After three transfer windows that have transformed the squad, it looks like there will be more change ahead.

Where do you think Eliot Anderson will ends up? Mark Grayson

I heard Elliot Anderson is on the midfield recruitment list, but I’m wondering if Sandro Tonali is also on the transfer target list and if the possibility of signing both of them is practically zero. Considering the potential departures of Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, I’m curious if signing these two would be feasible, and if the likelihood of their arrival would increase should Rodri also leave the team. yjj

Let’s start with the big one, then. As things stand, I think Elliot Anderson will end up at City this summer. They are in the best position to get him, can show him a clear path for getting regular minutes in a team that will be challenging for everything and likely winning at least something.

That doesn’t mean that things can’t change – this time last year City were in pole position to sign Morgan Gibbs-White – and of course there are other clubs interested. The fact that one of those is United means there will be plenty of talk around any transfer, especially if United get into the Champions League.

Sandro Tonali has been talked up for a move for months and the sounds coming out of Newcastle are not promising in terms of Eddie Howe being able to hang on to his best players. United look to have more chance of getting Tonali, although the Italian did get a lot of attention from Pep Guardiola after at least one of the games City played against them this season.

City are planning for next season with Rodri, so while they would have to change those plans if they were to sell him I’d be very surprised to see them go for both Anderson and Tonali. I think it will be one, and I think it will be Anderson.

What’s happened to Phil Foden? Alex

A very good question, Alex, and not one that anyone has the answer to yet. He was so good between September and December, back toward the levels of the 2023/24 campaign when he was the best player in the entire league, and yet it disappeared quickly and dramatically.

I wouldn’t write anything into the England performances, because while it was painful to see him in the No.9 role against Japan that was more because of the number of times he put himself in an excellent position and either Cole Palmer or Morgan Rogers failed to pass him the ball.

I have a feeling he may sneak into the England squad because from what I know Thomas Tuchel does rate him, but I’m not sure if a break would be better for him. He’s tried to play his way back into form for so long now but something is still missing and it is hard to remember when his last good game was.

Man City vs Liverpool VIP and hospitality tickets

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £179

Seat Unique

Book tickets here

Seat Unique offers hospitality packages for Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool, including ‘premium’ seats and complimentary food and drink.

Also interesting was the fact that he stopped to speak to journalists after the Carabao Cup final win where he had made a brief appearance as a substitute. Not many players tend to stop, and nobody would have batted an eyelid if Foden hadn’t, but he had this to say.

“Football sometimes is not straightforward. There are ups and downs and sometimes you can’t be the best version of yourself and that’s the way it is. It’s just about how you pick yourself back up. I’m still keeping my head down, trying to train as well as I can every day and hopefully I come back after the internationals a lot sharper and hopefully I can get more minutes and be back to where I was at the start of the season.”

That is what City hope, but if it doesn’t happen then a complete rest is surely better than a summer in the heat carrying Harry Kane’s bags.

Hi Simon, last summer’s transfer window began in mid-June. Will there be any changes to the schedule this summer because of the World Cup? Also, do you expect City to complete any outgoing or incoming deals before the World Cup begins? For example, players unlikely to feature at the World Cup such as Rico Lewis, Jack Grealish, and some academy players, as well as City’s top target, Elliot Anderson. TJ.Lee

Hi TJ, the remit from City is always that they want to do business quickly. Last summer was more of a necessity though because they wanted to make a statement before the Club World Cup and treat that as the start of the new campaign rather than the end of an old, disappointing one.

The World Cup makes it difficult in the sense that some players simply won’t want to think about transfers before or during the tournament because all of their focus will be on that – and their international managers certainly won’t want them to be. However, there is still about a month between the end of the tournament and the start of the Premier League so I think July and August will be much busier for deals.

In terms of Anderson, if City are able to win the race for him then they will try to strike whatever the best deal is for him at the World Cup and those discussions will be had with Forest and with his representatives. Whatever allows Anderson to give the most focus on England and have the least distractions will win out, but City and every other interested party will want as much of the deal done before the World Cup as can be.

Who is your opinion will become the man city first captain once Bernardo leaves and how badly it will all end if it’s Dias? Harry

I’m not sure if I’m addressing Harry or not, given it isn’t the first question we’ve had in moaning about the idea of Ruben Dias being captain. Bernardo Silva will likely leave at the end of this season and when he does go Ruben Dias will be front and centre in the list of candidates to replace him. Rodri will be a strong candidate as well but Dias has earned it and I don’t really see why people have a problem with him.

His performances have not all been as amazing as he can be this season, but then Guardiola has taken some accountability for that and said that he has used him more often than he should. And why has he done that? Because of the leadership that Dias brings to the team, meaning Guardiola thinks it is worth the risk on the player’s fitness for the extra that he adds to the team.

“I would have loved to put Khusa in more games and not Ruben, but if Rodri is not there I want characters on the pitch and Ruben is an incredible leader,” he said in January. “Having Nico there and the moment we have new players, Ruben gave us stability.”

The FA have released agent fee details from February 2025 to February 2026.

Manchester United spent £31,777,462 on agent fees between February 2025 and February 2026. Manchester City, meanwhile, spent 37,358,301.

In figures released by the Football Association, the total fees paid out to agents by Premier League clubs over a year are shown, along with the transactions involved. City’s total means that they spent the third-highest amount in the league, only behind Chelsea (£65.1m) and Aston Villa (£38.4m).

United, meanwhile were the team to spend the fifth-highest amount. Liverpool (£33.9m) and Arsenal (£32,1m) spent more over the 12-month period. In total, Premier League clubs paid £460,300,308 to agents over the year-long period.

**Get MEN Premium now for just £1 **HERE** – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking **HERE**. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking **HERE** and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters **HERE.

For United, the transactions document showed that payments were made for the incoming transfers of Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko.

The appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager also appears on the document. As well as Carrick there are transactions for his assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland.

Former midfielder Christian Eriksen also appears on the document, marked as a ‘contract amendment.’ The Dane left United in the summer at the end of his contract.

United also made payments for deals that saw Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund leave the club on loan.

It comes after United’s financial results released in February showed a £32.6 million operating profit for the first six months of the fiscal year. A turnaround compared to the £3.9 million loss 12 months earlier.

For City, the signings of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki, Sverre Nypan, Gianluigi Donarumma, James Trafford, Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are included on the transaction document. As are the transfers away from the club for Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan.

Updated contracts for Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly and Ruben Dias are also included. Back in December, City reported a loss of £9.9 million in the 2024/25 season in their financial accounts.

Full Premier League agent fees:

AFC Bournemouth – £20,883,523

Arsenal – £32,149,359

Aston Villa – £38,444,289

Brentford – 12, 743,523

Brighton – £19,520,800

Burnley – £7,357,902

Chelsea – £65,102,247

Crystal Palace – £16,848,734

Everton – 9,990,374

Fulham £11,434,784

Leeds – £13,990,935

Liverpool – £33,881,544

Manchester United – £37,358,301

Manchester City – £31,777,462

Newcastle – £20,284,806

Nottingham Forest – £12,210,822

Sunderland – £10,627,772

Tottenham – £21,384,701

West Ham – £18,348,701

Wolves – £25,960,372

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

England Official Store

Buy Now on England Official Store

England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

Manchester City midfielder Rodri admits he would find it difficult to turn down a move to Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world during his time at City, helping Pep Guardiola’s side win 11 major trophies including four Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September 2024 and completed just two Premier League games in 2025.

But since the New Year, the Spain international has played on a more consistent basis and delivered an impressive performance in City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday.

Rodri will have just a year remaining on his contract with City at the end of the season and in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero on Wednesday evening, the midfielder made it clear that he would welcome a move to Madrid.

Asked if he would like to return to La Liga, Rodri replied: ‘I’d like to return, yes, obviously.

‘For me, La Liga is where I started. I still follow it, it’s true not as much as before, but I still follow it.

‘And I have to admit that the Premier League is my weakness. I think it’s a thrilling league but at the same time very demanding, meaning it pushes you to the limit. I’ve been there for seven years now, and I’m noticing the passage of time, but for the moment I’m very happy there.

‘I’m currently recovering from an injury, and what worries me right now is my feeling, my level, how to get back to my previous level. Not the contract issue, that will come, especially with a World Cup coming up, which is crucial for reaching my level.

‘Right now I’m free, well, obviously I have a year left on my contract, obviously there will be a point where we’ll have to sit down and talk, have a conversation.’

Asked if he would turn down a move to Real Madrid because he has already played for Atletico, Rodri replied: ‘No, I mean, there have been many players who have gone down that path, right? And especially not directly, but over time.

‘I mean, for me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.

‘They have a fanbase that really goes all out for them, and for me, the Bernabeu is always incredible, a stadium that’s very imposing.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Harry Maguire makes Ruben Amorim ‘next club’ prediction after Manchester United exit

MORE: Liverpool want £50m Arsenal target to replace Mohamed Salah

MORE: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stance on Arsenal transfer revealed after approach for PSG star

Manchester City have Wembley on their mind as they prepare to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

We may be two days out from the Carabao Cup final, but Manchester City already know one player who will be starting against Arsenal on Sunday. After beating Newcastle, Pep Guardiola confirmed James Trafford would be in goal against the Gunners. “He’s an extraordinary ‘keeper and I’m really pleased,” City’s head coach said.

“With the final, he’s going to play the first final of Carabao Cup for him and in FA Cup of course everything can happen.” It has been well documented how tough this season has been for Trafford. Arriving from Burnley under the impression he would eventually be the club’s first choice, the 23-year-old soon lost his spot to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian has barely put a foot wrong since arriving and that has left Trafford on the fringes. He has been consigned to FA Cup and Carabao Cup appearances. His only start in the Champions League ended in defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and Donnarumma returning for the remaining games in the competition.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

In the summer, Trafford will pursue an exit from City. The goalkeeper should be playing regular first-team football, but while Donnarumma remains in Manchester, Trafford will not get that at the Etihad Stadium. And this leaves City with a problem to solve.

Guardiola never stands in the way of a player looking for a fresh opportunity. But Trafford’s lack of game time puts a ceiling on the price City can demand for his services.

Trafford has spent the season sitting on the bench and, as a result, teams will feel they have an advantage in negotiations because he wants something City can’t provide.

Buy Carabao Cup Final VIP tickets

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

From £1,399

Seat Unique

Buy tickets here

The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

However, a brilliant performance in the Carabao Cup final could change the narrative. Suddenly, City could point to the final as an example of a player who is ready to step into any side and perform straightaway, rather than a player who could take time to get up to speed having spent so long playing second fiddle.

Newcastle were interested in Trafford last summer and the Magpies are likely to return at the end of the season.

Nick Pope’s time as Eddie Howe’s No.1 seems to be over and Trafford would be an improvement on Aaron Ramsdale. But performing well in a game of this magnitude will increase the interest and potentially launch a bidding war.

That would be the perfect scenario for City. Regardless of the score on Sunday, if Trafford performs, the Blues could add millions to Trafford’s price tag.

Jamie Carragher has accused Gianluigi Donnarumma of ‘blinking first’ in the title race and says his rival David Raya could be one of the ‘biggest reasons’ Arsenal win the Premier League.

Last month Liverpool legend and ex-England defender Carragher suggested Donnarumma could be the key for Man City to beat Arsenal to the league title.

Carragher doubted City’s title credentials at the start of the season but changed his mind as soon as Donnarumma moved to the Etihad Stadium from PSG.

‘At the start of the season, I didn’t think there was any way City could win the league because of the goalkeeping situation,’ Carragher said.

‘No one wins a Premier League without an absolutely great goalkeeper and there’s no doubt about Donnarumma, a Champions League winner who won the Euros with Italy.

‘They’ve got a goalkeeper who can win the league. before they signed him, there was no way they could win a league without signing someone of that calibre.’

Manchester City signed Donnarumma to replace Ederson as Pep Guardiola’s No. 1 despite welcoming James Trafford to the club earlier in the summer.

At just £26m, Donnarumma has been one of the signings of the season, frequently pulling off impressive saves to earn Man City points.

But the 27-year-old Italian made a rare mistake in City’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday, failing to claim a corner and allowing ex-Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos to head home.

The error proved crucial as City were unable to respond with a winner, slipping nine points behind title rivals Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners beat Everton 2-0 earlier in the day, with 16-year-old Max Dowman stealing headlines with an immense performance off the bench.

But Raya also played a key role in Arsenal’s crucial win, making a number of saves while the score was still goalless before two late goals sealed the three points for Arteta’s side.

Carragher highlighted the difference between Raya and Donnarumma’s weekend’s on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football and insisted the former could be ‘one of the biggest reasons’ Arsenal win the title.