Bundesliga giant identify out-of-favour Manchester City duo as January transfer targets

Manchester City could yet be subject to January transfer interest in James Trafford, despite their clear intention to retain the England international.

City have signed Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi in the January transfer window, with no further incomings expected as departures are set to dominate the headlines at the Etihad Stadium in what remains of the window.

Oscar Bobb has been linked with a possible move to Fulham this week as the west Londoners table a £35 million offer for Manchester City’s injury-riddled academy graduate, who has failed to prove his fitness this term despite starting each of his side’s opening three Premier League games.

Pep Guardiola’s side were handed their second defeat in four days by Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday night as doubts strengthen over Manchester City’s silverware prospects following a poor start to 2026, with the Blues still searching for a Premier League win in the new calendar year.

After putting in a world-class performance in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United, Gianluigi Donnarumma was in net for Manchester City against Bodo/Glimt in midweek as another meagre display from the Blues handed the hosts their first win of the UEFA Champions League campaign.

Donnarumma has been one of Manchester City’s best signings from last summer, when he joined forces with Pep Guardiola on the final day of the transfer window for a cut-price £26 million in the backdrop of an ugly parting of ways with Paris Saint-Germain and Luis Enrique.

The Italy international’s eleventh hour arrival to England last summer has seen James Trafford fail to play in the Premier League since, with major uncertainty around the 23-year-old’s future at the Etihad Stadium in the final weeks of the January window.

Trafford is understood to be open to a permanent Manchester City exit this month, though Guardiola considers the Englishman as part of his plans as the Blues vie for silverware on four fronts in the second half of the season.

According to the information of Kicker, as translated and relayed by Get German Football News, Bayer Leverkusen are considering making a move for a new number one goalkeeper this month following an injury to Mark Flekken. 

It is claimed that three goalkeepers are of interest to Leverkusen officials: Chelsea’s second choice Filip Jörgensen, as well as both of Manchester City’s back-ups in Trafford and Stefan Ortega.

From the side of Trafford, it is claimed that the Englishman is more interested in staying in the Premier League, while Ortega Moreno could leave City for a small fee this month given he is out of contract at the end of the ongoing campaign.

It is likely that Ortega Moreno leaves Manchester City on a permanent deal in the coming weeks, with Trafford expected to stay put till the summer transfer window.