Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[paul_e]

^^ Harsh on Buendia and his 7 goals and 5 assists.

Maybe a bit harsh, but he's a player that we'd moved on from, yet have had to bring back and rely on quite heavily due to our situation.

but you've got the timeline wrong. He was back in the mix and playing before Sancho and Elliott even joined so we didn't 'bring him back' because they were shit.

[dcdavecollett]

But he got more game-time because they didn't (or weren't allowed to) perform.

[Halfway to Moseley]

Don’t know if this has been discussed already, but David Ornstein is reporting that we’re looking at James Trafford as a potential replacement for Emi if he leaves this summer.

[eamonn]

Is he good enough? Never seems that commanding.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Trafford is decent but he’d still cost upwards of £25m I reckon and is far from the finished article, so we’d need to be patient while he develops but could be our keeper for a good chunk of time. Or do we buy, most likely from Europe, someone who is a bit more experienced and polished.

[paul_e]

But he got more game-time because they didn't (or weren't allowed to) perform.

Maybe, or maybe he just played well in games before htey arrived or when they were still finding their feet and didn't deserve to be dropped. It just feels like a strange argument to use when Buendia has had a big impact for us this season.

[kippaxvilla2]

I think Trafford is great. 

[cdward]

If we ever did buy Trafford, we'd need to move him on while he's still young, the commentators/pundits would have a field day....

[Somniloquism]

The previous names we were mentioned for replacing Martinez.

Chevalier supposedly struggling at PSG.

Garcia did an Enkelmen the other day against Atletico.

[Gareth]

I think it would make sense, Trafford is obviously going to move on from there as he can’t be deputy to Donnaruma beyond the summer.  Be very surprised is Emi is here next season, felt like it was as much the club as Emi himself wanting to part ways last summer.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I can imagine should Man City decide to sell him they'll want a buy back clause. Ideally Trafford would have to refuse to it. I certainly don't want him here on an expensive loan deal which is pretty much what it would be. He's always impressed me from the England youth levels he's played and his time at Burnley especially last season he played a massive part in them winning the Championship and being promoted.

Replacing Emi isn't really possible but the next best thing is where we need to be shopping. Having a top quality keeper is essential, we just have to find the right one for us. Trafford certainly falls into that category but he won't be cheap but could be a great investment.