Man City handed transfer cash boost amid James Trafford potential sale to Premier League newcomers

Manchester City would only have to hand over a 'small percentage' of any transfer fee received for goalkeeper James Trafford this summer to Carlisle United according to the League One club's chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

The 20-year-old City stopper has spent the last 18 months on loan at League One side Bolton Wanderers. There he has picked up valuable experience and played regularly as he became the first-choice stopper for Whites boss Ian Evatt.

In a season-and-a-half with Wanderers, Trafford played 74 times and picked up silverware too after winning the Papa John's Trophy with Bolton at Wembley earlier this year with a 4-0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle. The England under-21 international has a long-term deal with City which he signed last summer.

He is committed to the Etihad Stadium outfit until the summer of 2027. However, speculation has linked him with a switch to Burnley or Sheffield United this summer as both teams return to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season after winning promotion from the Championship.

READ MORE: The downs and ups of Pep Guardiola's 'worst signing' at Man City

Trafford spent some time in the Carlisle Academy before joining City and as a result, the League One side would be entitled to a slice of any fee the Etihad Stadium club receives for the England under-21 goalkeeper. However, Carlisle chief executive Clibbens has explained why the Cumbrian side would perhaps not receive large fees from potential sales of either Trafford or Dean Henderson this summer.

Speaking at Carlisle's fan forum via the News & Star, Clibbens said: “On James Trafford, he went around the time of EPPP [the Elite Player Performance Plan], so the deal was determined around that – there are specific rules and