Emi Martinez appeared destined to leave Aston Villa in the summer of 2025, only to end up staying put, but could the World Cup-winning goalkeeper finally get his move 12 months on? The enigmatic Argentina international has remained an important part of Unai Emery’s plans in the West Midlands, but Emile Heskey has told GOAL why a sale is likely to be agreed in the next transfer window.
Manchester City beat Arsenal in the first final of the English football season, with Pep Guardiola schooling former apprentice Mikel Arteta to secure the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday. The contest was decided by two second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, who twice crept into the Gunners’ box effectively unmarked to score from a pair of almost identical crosses.
Tottenham are targeting two England goalkeepers, as well as a stopper likened to Manuel Neuer, as they prepare for the summer transfer window, per a new report. Spurs are expecting to sell Guglielmo Vicario this summer and, if they stay in the Premier League, hope to launch a move for a ready-made replacement.
Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed his starting goalkeeper for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley. While Gianluigi Donnarumma has been the preferred choice in the Premier League, a surprise name will take the gloves for the season's first piece of silverware.
Joe Cole believes Chelsea must upgrade their goalkeeping options to compete with the Premier League's elite, and the Blues legend has identified an England international as the ideal candidate to displace Robert Sanchez.
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford admits that he was blindsided by Pep Guardiola’s swoop for Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the England World Cup hopeful leaving the door open to another transfer 12 months on from making his way back to the Etihad Stadium. The 23-year-old is desperate for regular game time, but finds himself stuck behind the revered Italian shot-stopper.
Manchester City ran riot against Newcastle to rubber-stamp their place in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola again rang the changes but still watched his side ease to a 3-1 win on the night to complete a 5-1 drubbing on aggregate over last year's winners. Omar Marmoush scored two quick-fire goals while Tijjani Reijnders added another in a clinical first-half display from the hosts.
The January transfer window is notoriously tricky for buying clubs to manoeuvre in. Sure, willing teams may have the money to spend and financial wiggle room to squeeze some deals in, but their rivals may be less inclined to do business midway through the season with trophies and other honours still up for grabs.
Manchester City star Jeremy Doku has been ruled out of the club's Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Brentford and is set to miss the bulk of the festive programme. Pep Guardiola confirmed that the Belgian winger is still recovering from the leg injury that kept him out of City's win at Crystal Palace over the weekend, while also discussing the future of back-up goalkeeper James Trafford ahead of the January window.
Out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford reportedly wants to leave the club, just five months after returning to the Etihad Stadium. The 23-year-old played a crucial role in helping Burnley earn promotion to the Premier League last season, but he has struggled to gain regular minutes following his summer switch to Pep Guardiola’s side.
James Trafford found himself in the bizarre situation where he was both bought and replaced by Manchester City during the same transfer window this past summer, starting the 2025-26 season as the main man between the sticks but promptly dropped. Pep Guardiola is still an admirer, though, ultimately tipping the goalkeeper for a big role with England in the future.
