Pep Guardiola says “unbelievable” Manchester City star has “incredible future” ahead amid transfer fears

Manchester City have an “unbelievable keeper” in their ranks in James Trafford, Pep Guardiola told reporters off the back of reaching the 2026 Carabao Cup Final.

City’s progression to Wembley came via a commanding two-legged semi-final victory over Newcastle United, with Guardiola’s side asserting control early in the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

An early breakthrough via Omar Marmoush settled any nerves, and the hosts never relinquished their grip on the tie as they marched into a final date with Arsenal next month thanks to another goal from the Egyptian and Tijjani Reijnders.

While much of the post-match attention centred on City’s defensive options for the final, followed by the EFL’s firm rejection of Pep Guardiola’s public plea for a rule change to enable Marc Guehi to play in the final, the spotlight was placed on the performance of Trafford.

The young goalkeeper was handed another domestic cup start and delivered a display that underlined his standing within the squad as Newcastle threatened to shift momentum during the first half with several promising openings.

Trafford repeatedly intervened at key moments, with his sharp reactions in one-on-one situations preserving Manchester City’s early advantage, allowing Pep Guardiola’s side to stretch clear before the interval and effectively decide the contest before the closing stages.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the 3-1 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night, Guardiola said of Manchester City’s No.1 shirt holder, “James [Trafford] was unbelievable, especially in the first-half.”

He continued, “James is a top, top class player, top class keeper. He has an incredible future ahead of him… I’m really pleased he’s going to play his first Final [for Manchester City], and [in the] FA Cup, and of course, everything can happen.”

Offering further praise on the summer recruit when speaking during his post-match press conference, Guardiola told reporters, “WOW! At 1-0 he [James Trafford] made the first save, made saves in two-against-one – he’s an incredible keeper!

“England has an unbelievable keeper! He’s top! Happy that he will play the Final… Today in modern football, you have to have two exceptional keepers in a team because you never know what can happen.

“He’s an incredible guy, with Xabi [Mancisidor] and Richard [Wright], exceptional. He had a top, top game. I’m so happy for him!”

Pep Guardiola’s glowing assessment arrives against a backdrop of mounting uncertainty over James Trafford’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium, amid a feeling that conversations will be had during the summer.

Despite his high-profile return last summer from Burnley, the 23-year-old has largely been limited to cup competitions following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival on deadline day of the last summer market, prompting growing speculation over a possible summer exit.

Newcastle are believed to remain prominent admirers of the Englishman and could yet revisit their interest at the end of the season, while several Premier League and European clubs continue to monitor developments.

For now, Manchester City have been clear in their intentions to retain James Trafford, who is set to start the Carabao Cup Final against Arsenal in March – a stage that could yet prove decisive in shaping what happens next for the City Football Academy graduate.