Pep Guardiola is yet to determine his first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester City, even after James Trafford's shaky home debut. Trafford, who rejoined City from Burnley this summer for a reported £27 million, had a difficult game against Tottenham Hotspur, making an error that led to a goal in the 2-0 defeat. Despite this, Guardiola has defended his selection of Trafford, who also kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 win against Wolves.
The Manchester City manager said that he will wait until after the international break to settle on a number one goalkeeper. He stated that "everything is possible" before the international transfer window closes. After that, with games against Manchester United, in the Champions League, and against Arsenal, "everything will be more clear and we'll take decisions". Guardiola emphasized that the decision would depend on performance and other factors, not just for the goalkeepers but for all players.
The situation is further complicated by speculation surrounding the future of Ederson, who has been linked with a move to Galatasaray. City have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma. Amidst this uncertainty, there are even reports that Trafford could be heading to Besiktas on loan, with former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly interested.
Guardiola has shown confidence in Trafford's ability to bounce back from his error against Spurs. Despite the mistake, Trafford has been named in the England squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Guardiola indicated that Trafford has received a lot of support this week as City focus on their next game against Brighton.
The Manchester City manager's indecision highlights the fluidity of the goalkeeping situation at the club. While Trafford was initially given a chance to prove himself, his error against Tottenham has opened the door for Ederson to return to the starting lineup. The potential arrival of Donnarumma would further shake up the pecking order and increase competition for the coveted number one spot.
Ultimately, Guardiola's decision will likely depend on a number of factors, including the performances of the goalkeepers in training and matches, as well as any potential transfer activity before the window closes. For now, the Manchester City goalkeeping situation remains unresolved, with several players vying for the chance to be Guardiola's first choice.
