Trafford impresses as Leeds goalkeeper stakes England claim

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 17:22 · Archive

Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford is outperforming several rivals, including England's current number one Jordan Pickford, across key areas.

Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford has impressed since his club-record £40m transfer from Manchester City, drawing praise from Whites legend Nigel Martyn and manager Daniel Farke. The 23-year-old's performances have caught the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has given him two senior starts to test his credentials against Pickford, the current number one.

Trafford's statistics back up the optimism. He has a Premier League save percentage of 82.4%, higher than Pickford's 71.9%. This rate also places him fourth across Europe's top five leagues among goalkeepers who have played three or more games. Farke has described Trafford as 'the most promising young goalkeeper in the UK' and believes he has the potential to become England's number one. Tarik Muharemovic, a fellow Leeds summer signing, has also praised Trafford's quality, saying he instils confidence in the defence.

Trafford joined Leeds after spending time competing for the number one shirt at Manchester City. He was instrumental in two trophy wins for the Blues last season, though his first-team opportunities became limited after the club signed Gianluigi Donnarumma. The two England starts came against Spain and Czechia, with the latter a 2-0 victory.

How it is being reported

• James Trafford outperforming Jordan Pickford across several areas in race for England No.1 shirtThe Leeds United goalkeeper does still have some areas of his game to improve - but undoubtedly has the capacity to do thatLeedsLive · 30 Oct, 17:00
• 'Level-headed' Leeds United star James Trafford draws praise from Whites legend Nigel MartynLeeds United legend Nigel Martyn has saluted Whites goalkeeper James TraffordYorkshire Post · 30 Oct, 16:56

In this story: James Trafford · Leeds United · Jordan Pickford · Daniel Farke · Nigel Martyn · Manchester City · England · Thomas Tuchel

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