The rise of James Trafford: Insiders tell JACK GAUGHAN how the 'octopus' became a future England and Man City No 1 - and why Pep Guardiola paid £30m to bring him 'home'
Arms locked behind your opponent, chin resting on the shoulder. And go. Flip them into the Greek sand. Staff on that trip to the Elite Neon Cup youth tournament still talk about Trafford's clinic in the Mediterranean heat.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Man City eyeing shock cut-price transfer for Donnarumma as he claims PSG have forced him out in emotional statement
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MANCHESTER CITY are eyeing a cut-price move for Gianluigi Donnarumma. But only if Brazilian Ederson is tempted by Galatasaray's Turkish delights. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Man City are lining up Gianluigi Donnarumma after the ace confirmed his PSG exit Credit: AFP 8 Galatasaray are looking to sign Ederson as he enters the last year of his deal Credit: Alamy 8 Pep Guardiola has some reservations over Donnarumma's ball-playing abilities Credit: PA 8 Luis Enrique was blasted by the Italian stopper in a scathing statement Credit: Reuters Donnarumma, 26, is available for around £40m from the European champions after a contract fall-out, although he wants a 50 per cent rise on his current £210,000 per week salary. On Tuesday night he vented his frustration at being forced out by Luis Enrique. Donnarumma posted on Instagram: 'Unfortunately, someone has decided that I can no longer be part of the group and contribute to the team's success. I am disappointed and disheartened. 'I hope to have the opportunity to look the fans at the Parc des Princes in the eyes one more time and say goodbye as it should be done.' READ MORE IN FOOTBALL CUP SHOCK Carabao Cup tie called off just minutes before kick off after power cut PSG boss Enrique admitted: 'I had to take a very difficult decision. It was not easy. He is one of the best keepers out there. He is an even better man. 'But we were looking for a different profile of a keeper and once again, it is very difficult to make this type of decision. 'I understand questions about Donnarumma but I want to make the team better. I think we have been quite clear. 'My decision is the decision and I have been supported by my club.' BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Pep Guardiola is thought to harbour some question marks over the former Milan shot-stopper's ability with his feet and set-piece vulnerability. Those attributes were critical in his re-signing of England gloveman James Trafford in a £27m move from Burnley. Gianluigi Donnarumma bursts into tears on pitch after PSG star's challenge causes Jamal Musiala horror injury Donnarumma's angry statement in full "TO the special Paris fans. "From the first day I arrived, I gave everything – on and off the pitch – to earn my place and defend the goal of Paris Saint-Germain. "Unfortunately, someone has decided that I can no longer be part of the group and contribute to the team's success. I am disappointed and disheartened. "I hope to have the opportunity to look the fans at the Parc des Princes in the eyes one more time and say goodbye as it should be done. "If that doesn't happen, I want you to know that your support and affection mean the world to me, and I will never forget it. "I will always carry with me the memory of all the emotions, the magical nights, and of you, who made me feel at home. "To my teammates – my second family – thank you for every battle, every laugh, every moment we shared. You will always be my brothers. "Playing for this club and living in this city has been an immense honour. Thank you, Paris." 8 But with the Istanbul outfit seeking to prise Ederson away from the Etihad, City are ready to think again about Donnarumma, 26, if need be. While City say they have not been contacted by the Turkish side, Galatasaray are keen to see if Ederson, who has just 12 months left on his contract, can be persuaded away from the Prem. It had been expected that Ederson, 32 next week and who has been at City since 2017, was planning to run down the final year of his Etihad deal and be available on a free transfer next summer. That suggests Galatasaray would have to table a huge offer to make him change his mind and walk away from that potential pay-day. 8 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW 8 PSG have already replaced Donnarumma with Lucas Chevalier Credit: Alamy 8 City re-signed James Trafford from Burnley earlier in the summer Credit: PA But if the South American does ask City to let him leave, Donnarumma would come back into the equation - with Guardiola's side looking like the only Prem option left on the table. Both Chelsea and Manchester United have made it clear they are not interested in pursuing a deal for the Italian, with the Stamford Bridge outfit pledging confidence in Robert Sanchez after his Club World Cup heroics. At Old Trafford, Andre Onana has been given assurances that he will start the campaign as Ruben Amorim's first choice, with United insisting that their remaining transfer priorities are elsewhere than in the keeping department. Donnarumma was left out of PSG's squad for tonight's Uefa Super Cup Final with Spurs, with the French champions having already landed Lille's Bruno Chevalier as his replacement. It leaves Donnarumma waiting for a buyer to come in with the Italian seemingly willing to sit it out until the final hours of the summer window before making a decision about his future.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Premier League clubs are raking in record £600m from kit deals this season – where does your club rank?
PREMIER League clubs are raking in a record £600million from kit deals this season. The 20 top-flight clubs negotiated an additional £65million from shirt producers on top of last season's deals. Most of the total — £563million — is going to the ten biggest clubs. Manchester City and Liverpool will both get £100million from their tie-ups with Puma and Adidas respectively. They have overtaken Manchester United after the Red Devils finished 15th last year and failed to get a trophy. The kit deals are separate from the huge amounts paid by sponsors, who can now pay extra to have their logos on sleeves as well as their names emblazoned on the front of the shirt. The most popular maker is the German sportswear giant adidas, which has kit deals with eight Premier League clubs. The Leeds deal is worth £5million a year while fellow Premier League new boys Burnley have a £1million agreement with Castore. Sunderland, who won promotion through the play-offs, get the least, with a £500,000 deal with Hummel. Liverpool signed a five-year contract with adidas after switching from Nike. Adidas will give the Reds a flat fee of £30million per season, plus royalties of 20 per cent on all net sales of club merchandise. Forest Green Rovers Unveil World's First Fully Vegan Football Kit & Launch Mental Health Initiative Experts say this will lift their kit earnings to an estimated £100million. Meanwhile Aston Villa announced their first ever deal with adidas last year as Unai Emery's team secured Champions League football. They ended their deal with Castore prematurely after complaints from players that the fabric 'soaked up too much sweat'. 2 2
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
No 'better time' to play in England, says Lohmann
Germany midfielder Sydney Lohmann says she "can't imagine a better time than now" to play in England - on the back of the Lionesses' Euro 2025 25-year-old joined Manchester City on a three-year-deal from Bayern Munich in July, after eight seasons in the played her whole career in her homeland, Lohmann said it was the perfect time to move she has been thrilled by the support for the women's game in England, with interest high after the Lionesses lifted a second successive Euros title in Switzerland."I can't imagine a better time than now," Lohmann told BBC Sport. "This country is crazy about football, and in Manchester there is a different vibe. When you speak about football, it doesn't matter if it is women's or men's they are so excited about it." She was tempted by City, despite their disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw them miss out on European finished fourth in the Women's Super League last season, outside the Champions League places and 17 points behind winners led to Gareth Taylor's departure as manager in March, with Nick Cushing put in temporary charge until Andree Jeglertz, who coached Denmark at the Euros, was appointed permanently this said she has followed City closely for two years and her new team-mates had the quality to do much better."They were under performing, you could see all the potential, they were better than the results were saying," she added. "I was interested in the playing style."I can feel the hunger, no-one was satisfied with last season." 'Both quite emotional' - on being sworn at by Scott While Lohmann is new to the WSL, she is familiar to English audiences as an unwitting participant in one of the most iconic moments in women's the Euro 2022 final, England midfielder Jill Scott went viral after TV cameras captured her leaping from the turf after a tackle and angrily swearing in a German opponent's a former City player who has since gained popularity as a pundit and reality TV star, has even got a tattoo referencing what she said at the time in a match her side won 2-1 for a landmark first Euros player she swore at was Lohmann, who was unaware of her role until being told by Lionesses and former Bayern team-mate Georgia years on, Lohmann was able to laugh at the moment, which was referenced by City in the videos announcing her arrival and featured a self-depreciating cameo by Scott, external."It's funny, I did not realise what a big thing it has been," added Lohmann. "I just remember it as a really intense moment in the game. We were both quite emotional - I actually like situations like that - and I have heard Jill is a lovely person." 'There will always be some idiots' Lohmann also played for her country at Euro 2025, where she helped Germany reach the semi-finals before being defeated by Spain after extra was a tournament marred by players being targeted for abuse. England defender Jess Carter revealed she had suffered racism online during the tournament, while Spain forward Salma Paralluelo was also abused after missing in the penalty shootout of the final loss to the who has a significant online fanbase with 127,000 Instagram followers, said she was also targeted with abuse after Germany's Euros she had "never received that many notifications or comments", she had been able to deal with the unsavoury comments through the support of team-mates and coaches."To see and read that stuff right after the game when you are sensitive to that… of course you shouldn't experience that, but I know where to put it and in what context," said Lohmann. "There will always be some idiots."There needs to be more things done, it is good English players have raised their voices to put pressure on. It is important not to let people say whatever they want." Head here to get involved
