James Trafford has recently concluded a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One away from Manchester City.
The 19-year-old joined Wanderers from City in the January transfer window, after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley came to an end. He proved to be a hit at Ian Evatt's side, as he became the club's number one goalkeeper in the the second half of the campaign in place of Joel Dixon.
He played 22 times for the Whites and kept clean sheets in his first four games, setting a club record in the process. He also notched two assists in League One.
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The goalkeeper has a year left to go on his contract at City and Wanderers would like to have the young stopper back for the 2022/23 season. Trafford has previously spoken of his ambitions to be City's number one in the future, but faces stiff competition from the likes of Ederson, Zack Steffen and veteran Scott Carson in the pecking order.
And he has made it clear that in future he does not want to go back to City to play in the club's under-23s set-up. He wants to challenge Ederson for the number one jersey, or at least be on the bench for Pep Guardiola's side if he ends up remaining at the Etihad Stadium.
Back in February, he said: "I would never go back and play 23s. If I was to go back with City, it would be as second-choice or to challenge Eddie [Ederson].
"I wouldn't want to play that level again, especially now I've got the taste for the environment of men's football.
"But it's still February, so there's no rush. If I was to go back there [City], I don't know if they know what is happening with Eddie [Ederson], Scott [Carson], Zack [Steffen] or even Slicks [Cieran Slicker]."
Speaking before the end of the season last month, Trafford said he would leave where he is playing his football next season with the Premier League champions. But he is not the only City goalkeeper who has first team ambitions.
Gavin Bazunu has recently returned to City after a successful season out on loan in League One like Trafford, but at Portsmouth. He ended the season with 16 clean sheets, just narrowly falling short of the golden glove in League One.
He won regular praise for his performances at Portsmouth as he’s impressed with his displays in the third tier. Having joined on a season-long loan last summer, the Republic of Ireland international made 46 appearances across all competitions.
And according to the Times, Bazunu has told City's management that he wants to play regular first team football next season. The stopper is rumoured to have attracted the transfer interests of Bournemouth and Southampton and are reported to be keen to offer him that opportunity.
Bazunu's City contract currently runs until the summer of 2024. But he is seen at best as third choice in the goalkeeping pecking order, behind Ederson and Steffen.
