The 'strange statistic' James Trafford must prove worthy of amid Leeds United transfer latest
James Trafford is expected to imminently become a Leeds United player.
The England goalkeeper is closing on a deal that will cost Leeds more than £40million to sign him from Manchester City.
Goalkeeper has been an extremely problem position for Leeds and an area that neded urgent attention in the transfer window.
Lucas Perri was signed from Lyon last summer, but endured an a dismal first campaign and lost his place in the team to Karl Darlow.
However, Darlow himself has now moved on to join Leeds' cross-Pennines rivals Manchester United.
Trafford is about to solve the issue when his move finally gets completed, but one statistic will undoubtedly add pressure to his move.
Where will James Trafford rank among most expensive goalkeepers?
MOT Leeds News has reported on what has been holding up Leeds confirming the transfer of Trafford from Man City.
The deal is expected to get closed in the near future, but Trafford is still on a break after being away with England at the World Cup.
When he does sign, if the numbers reported are correct, it would make him the fourth most expensive goalkeeper signing of all time.
Only Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea - £76.1million), Alisson (Roma to Liverpool - £67m), and Andre Onana (Inter to Man United - £43.9m).
It would make him Leeds' most expensive signing ever, but - in what the Athletic fittingly terms a "strange statistic" - he would be the only goalkeeper in the Premier League to be a club's record signing.
Trafford must deal with Leeds pressure
Trafford is an extremely talented goalkeeper, but that "strange statistic" will bring its own pressure.
It is a bit bizarre that considering the eye-watering sums being spent in football nowadays, that more of that cash is not being spent on goalies.
A good goalkeeper can be invaluable and be the difference between success and failure.
Being Leeds' most expensive player will bring an added pressure, and for all of Trafford's talent he has not yet even truly established himself as an accomplished Premier League player.
His last stint as a first-team regular in the Premier League saw him relegated with Burnley, and City opted to demote him once they signed Gianluigi Donnarumma last summer.
So, there is a lot of expectation, there is a lot of potential, there is a lot of excitement. But with all that comes a lot of pressure to deliver, and Trafford has to be ready for that fact.