Ex-Bolton Wanderers loanee James Trafford's Manchester City rival makes future stance clear

James Trafford has recently concluded a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One away from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old joined Wanderers from City in the January transfer window, after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley came to an end. He proved to be a hit at Ian Evatt's side, as he became the club's number one goalkeeper in the the second half of the campaign in place of Joel Dixon.

He played 22 times for the Whites and kept clean sheets in his first four games, setting a club record in the process. He also notched two assists in League One.

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The goalkeeper has a year left to go on his contract at City and Wanderers would like to have the young stopper back for the 2022/23 season. Trafford has previously spoken of his ambitions to be City's number one in the future, but faces stiff competition from the likes of Ederson, Zack Steffen and veteran Scott Carson in the pecking order.

And he has made it clear that in future he does not want to go back to City to play in the club's under-23s set-up. He wants to challenge Ederson for the number one jersey, or at least be on the bench for Pep Guardiola's side if he ends up remaining at the Etihad Stadium.

Back in February, he said: "I would never go back and play 23s. If I was to go back with City, it would be as second-choice or to challenge Eddie [Ederson].

"I wouldn't want to play that level again, especially now I've got the taste for the environment of men's football.

"But it's still February, so there's no rush. If I was to go back there [City], I don't know if they know what is happening with Eddie [Ederson], Scott [Carson], Zack [Steffen] or