James Trafford to cost more than Champions League winner and Tottenham new boy despite not playing above League One

Burnley are set to make Man City starlet James Trafford football’s 17th most expensive goalkeeper of all-time.

But despite his hefty price tag, the glovesman has only played up to League One level in his short career.

talkSPORT understands the Clarets are in advanced talks with Man City to sign academy product Trafford for £19million.

That would make him more expensive than Champions League-winner Edouard Mendy, who recently left Chelsea for Saudi side Al-Ahli in a £16m deal.

It would also see Trafford become more expensive than Tottenham’s new £16m goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Burnley manager and ex-Man City captain Vincent Kompany has likely kept tabs on his former club’s starlet for some time.

But it’s the 20-year-old’s recent performances for England’s U21s at the European Championships and him keeping a clean sheet for the whole tournament that will have caught Kompany’s eye ahead of Burnley’s Premier League return.

However despite Trafford’s quality being clear, he’s only experienced football two leagues below, having been sent out on loan to League One since the 2021/22.

Trafford first signed on loan for Accrington Stanley, making 11 appearances.

He then sent the second part of the season on loan at Bolton, keeping four clean sheets in his first four games – the first time a new goalkeeper had done that in the club’s history.

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Trafford continued to be sent out on loan to Bolton, with him keeping 26 clean sheets this season, breaking the record for the most clean sheets by a Bolton goalkeeper in one season.

So whilst Trafford certainly lacks experience in the top flight, his efforts for play-off finalists and EFL Trophy winners Bolton and his performances for England demonstrate his talent.

It’s clear to see why Man City got him tied down to a five-year contract in 2021.

Trafford has a long way to go before he levels Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga world record fee of £71million.

But his shot stopping and his ability with his feet explain why he’s already in the top 20 most expensive goalkeepers in football history and why Burnley want to snap him up.

Trafford and the England U21s return to action in the Euros on Wednesday, with them taking on Israel in the semi-finals, live on talkSPORT2.