According to the Daily Mail, Unai Emery’s side have entered the race to sign Manchester City’s highly-rated goalkeeper James Trafford.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of World Cup number one Emiliano Martinez, Villa are actively searching for a long-term successor and the 23-year-old Englishman has quickly risen to the top of their wish list.
Trafford’s current situation at Man City is undoubtedly frustrating for a player with immense potential.
He originally came through City’s academy and made a name for himself with his incredible shot-stopping at Burnley before making a triumphant return to the Etihad last summer.
But the fairytale homecoming was suddenly derailed when Pep Guardiola’s side also secured a blockbuster deal for 27-year-old Italian superstar Gianluigi Donnarumma.
James Trafford wants more playing time
As a result, Trafford was glued to the bench. Despite recently making his senior England debut, the unstoppable 23-year-old cannot be expected to be content to play second fiddle forever.
He has played just over 250 minutes in the league this season and is widely expected to push for a move this summer in search of regular first-team football, which he desperately needs to continue his development.
Pursuing Trafford at Villa Park makes perfect sense both economically and tactically.
Aston Villa are looking for a replacement for Martinez
Martinez is an absolute legend at the club, but at 33 years old, there is a growing feeling that his time in the Midlands may be coming to a natural end.
The Argentine is one of Villa’s highest-paid players and signing him now would be a huge boost as the club navigates difficult financial and sustainability regulations from the Premier League and UEFA.
Trafford is an imposing modern goalkeeper with excellent distribution skills and good reflexes, traits that Emery relies heavily on building from the back.
Man City are notorious for making tough deals and will likely demand a hefty transfer fee of more than £30m to part with their young domestic asset.
But if Martinez finally bids farewell to Villa Park this summer, securing a starving, ready-to-play replacement like Trafford will be an absolute no-brainer.
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