Manchester City on brink of completing £27m move, with transfer set to break a British record

Burnley’s James Trafford is completing a move back to Manchester City for an initial £27million.

The 22-year-old had been courted by Newcastle United for well over a year but has opted for a return to the Etihad Stadium, where he came through the club’s academy.

City sold Trafford to Burnley for an initial £14m two years ago and inserted matching rights into the deal.

Once Newcastle bid for the England Under-21 international last week, City had to quickly decide whether to make their move – despite neither Ederson nor Stefan Ortega leaving so far this summer.

Trafford’s switch should be finalised imminently and he is expected to provide competition for Ederson during the last year of the Brazilian’s contract.

Trafford conceded only 16 goals as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last term, keeping an astonishing 30 Championship clean sheets.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City only ignited their interest in the shot-stopper this month

That equalled a 71-year EFL record, set by Port Vale, and Thomas Tuchel subsequently called him up to England’s senior squad.

If add-ons are triggered then Trafford’s transfer will end up north of £30m.

It will eclipse the British record for a goalkeeper set when Jordan Pickford joined Everton.