Horrendous '£15m' James Trafford contradictions emerge on talkSPORT as 'mad' Leeds deal slammed

Not that Leeds United chiefs will care much, but their £40million move for James Trafford has been ridiculed.

The Manchester City goalkeeper is closing in on a massive club-record transfer to Leeds.

Acquiring a new number one shot-stopper this summer has been a big priority after the exit of Karl Darlow.

Trafford joined Manchester City on the premise of becoming their number one goalkeeper last summer, but that was quickly no longer the case after the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Still only 23-years old, the England international is still firmly at the beginning of his senior career between the sticks.

However, Leeds have been told they should be paying over £20m less than what they're set to for Trafford.

What have Rory Jennings and Ade Oladipo said about James Trafford and Leeds?

MOT Leeds News has been following developments that Trafford could be a Leeds player by the end of this week.

Understandably, many Whites fans are hugely excited about the prospect of their goalkeeper position being filled for the next decade-plus potentially, but not all share the same feeling on the transfer.

Speaking on Wednesday, talkSPORT presenters Rory Jennings and Ade Oladipo tore into Leeds for shelling out £40m on Trafford, in what is a baffling take on the deal.

“James Trafford; he’ll become the most expensive British goalkeeper in history at £40m from Man City to Leeds. £40m for a reserve goalkeeper,” Oladipo said.

“See what I mean? It’s gone mad. It’s gone mad,” Jennings interjected. “I mean he is a good keeper,” he continued, to which Oladipo replied: “he is, but he’s a reserve goalkeeper.

“I see him being England’s number one very soon, but he’s going to Leeds,” Jennings then remarked, which doesn’t make much sense considering Trafford would be a brilliant signing for the Whites if he is to become England’s number one soon.

“This is what I know: my idea of money has gone,” Oladipo continued. “For Leeds to be able to spend £40m on a goalkeeper, then we’ve got it wrong.”

Again, this is a peculiar argument to make. Why shouldn’t Leeds be able to spend £40m on a goalkeeper? Do you have to pass a certain threshold of seasons in the Premier League before you’re able to spend that sort of money?

“James Trafford for me, considering his Premier League experience and whatever else, is a £15m goalkeeper,” Jennings claimed.

Further contradictions are made here, as again, if this 23-year-old is going to be England’s number one in the near future, then on no planet is Trafford only worth £15m. 

“By the way, I think this could be the season, I know you’re going to shoot me down, where Trafford takes over from (Jordan) Pickford (as England’s number one). I think this is it,” said Oladipo.

So once again, you can’t say Trafford is going to become England’s number one this season ahead of Jordan Pickford, but then question why Leeds are forking out big money for him and even further, suggesting he’s worth just £15m?

"You know when he was at City, you're like 'okay, that's how you become England's number one, that's how you dethrone Jordan Pickford'. He's going to have an uphill battle here, but it's a great signing for Leeds," Jennings finished.

Jennings again contradicts himself here, as to say it's a great signing but also blast Leeds for paying the money they're paying just doesn't make any sense at all. How can it be a great signing if you've said Leeds paying £25m more than what he's worth?

Leeds shouldn't have any concerns about the price they're paying for Trafford, as in fact, it could be an absolute bargain never mind an overpay.

Leeds should point to Man City's Trafford fee as evidence for bargain potentialLet

Everyone knows that the transfer prices are only going up and will only continue to rise; that's just the way the market is now.

But as detailed in a report from Sky Sports, Trafford is set to become the fourth-most expensive goalkeeper in history.

Kepa Arrizabalaga (£72m to Chelsea), Alisson (£67m to Liverpool) and Andre Onana (£47.2m to Manchester United) respectively are the three more expensive shot-stoppers ahead of him.

Would any Liverpool fan disagree that Alisson wasn't worth that investment? No. The less said about the other two deals the better.

But this idea that Leeds are spending crazy money to sign Trafford is simply not true.

Indeed, Man City paid Burnley £27m to re-sign him last summer, and so Leeds are essentially betting £13m that he's going to improve upon the player who leaves the Etihad.

And should he become England's starting goalkeeper this season, you can be sure that his value will have increased substantially more than that too.

This isn't an overpay at all, this, should everything go to plan and his potential be reached, is an absolute bargain for Leeds and one they could still turn a profit on down the line.