Exclusive: Pep Slams Door Shut on Trafford and Ortega January Moves in Shock City Decision

Manchester City will not allow goalkeepers James Trafford and Stefan Ortega to both leave in January, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

There have been reports that both keepers are both unhappy at the Etihad after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s late arrival at the club this summer.

But our sources have been told boss Pep Guardiola has been firm in telling the club that he does not want a new back-up keeper joining the squad in January.

It is understood that Newcastle United are eager to reignite their pursuit of England hopeful Trafford next month, but would want a permanent deal.

Relegation-fighting Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley, where he kept a club record number of clean sheets as they earned promotion, are understood to want to talented stopper on loan. 

Trafford, 23, returned to the blue side of Manchester in the summer in a £27million deal from Burnley. 

At the time Trafford was promised the number one spot after Ederson’s exit, but the opportunity to secure Champions League winner Donnarumma’s services was too good to pass up for former Barcelona boss Guardiola.

Trafford has understandably left disgruntled by the situation at City and is desperate for first-team football to enhance his chances of going to the World Cup. 

As a result of the two summer additions, Ortega slipped down the pecking order to third choice.

The German stopper, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to leave the club on a free transfer.

It is understood Guardiola would like to kick the issue down the road until the campaign is finished, giving him more time to plan.

In other Man City news, the club are also pushing to tie England defender John Stones down to a new long-term deal.

Adamant Stance

Would City be willing to compromise? 

A scenario could develop where Trafford is allowed to leave on loan for the second half of the season, which would give him the chance to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's thinking ahead of next summer. 

It is evident City view the young stopper as their future number one, even if that means waiting in the wings behind Italy’s Donnarumma over the next few years.