According to Talksport this morning, James Trafford to Leeds is a story that is hotting-up! But he won't come cheap!

Some stories are suggesting Newcastle have been put off pursuing Trafford as Man City want £50m for him, although reports suggest a more "modest" £40m would tempt them to do business.

It would still represent a huge mark-up on the £27m City paid to bring him back from Burnley last summer, having previously sold him to the Clarets for £14m

Now it is being widely touted Leeds and City are on the brink of what would be a historic deal for us by beating the previous transfer-record paid in 2023 for Georgino Rutter, which was £36m.

Yes, it is a lot of money but as the excellent Leeds All Over Vlogger said last week it would solve our goalkeeping crisis for many years to come.

Trafford is still only 23, already part of the England set-up and tipped as Jordan Pickford's successor.

And although id have been happy to stick with Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri for another season, Darlow took his big, final pay-day to warm the bench at Scum. Perri who has gone on our tour of the USA but has again emerged as a target for Roma.

Perri doesn't inspire me at all. I was at the FA Cup game at West Ham and I think that summed him up, brilliant at times especially during the shoot-out but bonkers during other parts of the game. He seems incapable of catching the bloody ball!

To cut Darlow a bit of slack, he probably got wind that Leeds were intent on bringing in a big name keeper, we've also been linked with Nick Pope and Zion Suzuki and clearly Perri doesn't fancy being second-fiddle again like last season as it appears the only thing stopping him from moving to Roma is Leeds finding a replacement.

Now Trafford is back from World Cup duty, c'mon you String-O-Beads, get it done!

Mark M