Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will wait until after the international break to settle on a number one goalkeeper, following a difficult home debut for James Trafford last week.
Trafford, signed from Burnley after City activated their buy-back clause for the England international, kept a clean sheet in his debut at Wolves, but was at fault for Tottenham’s second goal last Saturday as Spurs claimed a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Having received a poor pass from Nico Gonzalez, Trafford saw his effort to play the ball out from the back intercepted as Pape Sarr deflected it into the path of Richarlison, before Joao Palhinha eventually fired in a deflected strike.
Trafford was shaky thereafter with Ederson, who Guardiola had referred to as his number one a week prior, watching on from the bench.
Ederson has been heavily linked with a move to Galatasaray, with City reported to be in talks with Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. At the same time, there has been speculation surrounding a potential loan move to Besiktas for Trafford.
Guardiola: Everything is possible
Asked about his goalkeeper situation ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, Guardiola made it clear he will wait before settling on a pecking order.
“In this part of the season before [the] international transfer window is closed, everything is possible. So it’s simple as that,” Guardiola said of his goalkeepers.
“After that, we’re going to play United and Champions League and Arsenal, after that everything will be more clear and we take a decision. It depends on the performance and it depends on many reasons.”
Despite his error last weekend, Trafford was still named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and Guardiola indicated he has received a lot of support this week as City have turned their focus to bouncing back at Brighton.
“Always they have the arms on their shoulders, always. They don’t believe it, but we take care of them. Impossible [it] would be better,” Guardiola added.
“What happened don’t belong just to James. It’s not easy to say, but [it] don’t belong just to James to change what happened in the second goal against the Spurs.
“He has a huge personality. Of course he’s concerned, I would not like it if he is not concerned, but of course we are here to help them.”
Pressed on who would start in goal at Brighton, Guardiola quipped: “I will decide tomorrow. Because I don’t have a press conference tomorrow.”
