Manchester City plot permanent sale and loan moves for two current goalkeepers

Etihad transfer chiefs are currently plotting the next steps for two of Manchester City’s current goalkeeping options, according to a new report.

With the transfer window edging ever closer, City’s plans for the summer are in the process of being finalised, and that includes deciding the futures of players that have recently spent time away from the club on loan.

Among those names are two of Manchester City’s goalkeeping options in Zack Steffen – who spent the ongoing campaign at Middlesbrough, and James Trafford – who continued the next phase of his development at Bolton Wanderers.

After impressive campaigns for the pair, but remaining someway off providing serious competition to Ederson in the Manchester City first-team, and understood to be sitting below Stefan Ortega in the pecking order, their respective careers are at a crossroads.

For the USA international, it seems as though his time at the Etihad Stadium may be coming to an end, with a new report detailing Manchester City officials’ plans for the 28 year-old.

According to the information of Alan Nixon, Manchester City will look to find a permanent buyer for Zack Steffen in the summer, while Middlesbrough fear that they will lose the American stopper due to the Premier League champions’ willingness to sell.

Following Manchester City’s stance in being open to a permanent sale of Steffen in the coming months, it is reported that a number of German clubs have been placed on alert, as Etihad chiefs now feel the timing is right to cash in.

Elsewhere, and City are also looking for a Premier League club to take on the services of their highly-rated England under-21 goalkeeper James Trafford, with both Burnley and Sheffield United having reportedly shown interest.

However, Manchester City would almost certainly want assurances over playing time, and concerns over whether Trafford would be starting every game for either of those clubs are certainly prevalent.

Speaking during a recent interview, the 21 year-old made his intentions regarding playing for Manchester City’s first-team one day very clear, in a confident outpouring of emotion on the subject.

“I have very high expectations of my ability, from the start of my men’s career when I played at Accrington I told people I’d play for England, play for City,” he explained. “The people around me believe in me and I still completely believe I will.

“It is clearer to bystanders now that it is going to happen.”