James Trafford Emerges As Surprise Inter Milan Target To Replace Yann Sommer
Cristian Chivu is in the market for a new goalkeeper and has cast his eye over the Englishman.
Ben Horlock
Updated on 02 December 2025
Inter Milan has joined the race for James Trafford as a potential replacement for Yann Sommer.
The wantaway Manchester City goalkeeper looks almost certain to quit the Etihad next month. Trafford only moved to the Cityzens in the summer but is second choice to Azzurri captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.
His frustrations have increased owing to his limited game time and with the 2026 World Cup just six months away, Trafford knows the importance of playing regular soccer.
James Trafford Transfer News
As it stands, Newcastle remains the favorite to sign James Trafford in January. The Magpies aren’t happy with Nick Pope who was dropped for the Everton win after his clanger against Marseille in the Champions League.
It’s unknown at this stage whether back-up Aaron Ramsdale will be declared the new first-choice stopper. Many supporters feel Ramsdale’s and Pope’s roles should be reversed.
Once again, that doesn’t guarantee Trafford the minutes he desires and that is where Inter Milan comes in. The Nerazzurri are on the lookout for a new goalie to be the long-term replacement for Yann Sommer.
Will Yann Sommer Leave Inter Milan?
After Lautaro Martinez committed to Inter, it appears that veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer won’t be following suit with his team-mate.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on December 2 that the Nerazzurri won’t be renewing Sommer’s contract. His current deal expires on June 30, 2026.
Therefore, a new goalkeeper is expected to be a main priority for Cristian Chivu. The Romanian boss wants to add reinforcements in January and views Trafford as a perfect candidate. Guglielmo Vicario is also an option but a transfer is more likely at the end of the campaign.
Granted, Sommer will not likely lose his spot straight away but Trafford can certainly help share the load. Especially as the Serie A giants entertain a large number of fixtures domestically and on the continent.
Who Else Will Inter Milan Try To Sign In January?
After Josep Martinez’s fatal car collision incident in October, James Trafford is the prime contender to fill the expected void from Yann Sommer.
Martinez is set to return to first-team action against Venezia in the Coppa Italia clash on December 3. However, the Spaniard isn’t considered as a long-term replacement for Sommer.
As Cristian Chivu tries to enhance his goalkeeping options – who else will the 2010 treble winner be eyeing up in the coming weeks?
Hellas Verona star Giovane is heavily linked with the San Siro giants. The Brazilian is expected to be available for approximately €15-18million.
Federico Chiesa is another player who could be on his way to the San Siro. His days at Liverpool look numbered despite making a strong start to the season.
Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi has also been discussed. The Eagles would likely cash-in as Guehi’s current deal expires in the summer.
Ben Horlock
Ben has a long standing devotion to Italian soccer and in particular, Serie A. Ben grew up watching legendary presenter James Richardson deliver the latest news and views with the daily papers and breakfast in hand. Not only does Ben follow Italy's top soccer division, he is an avid follower of all the major European leagues. Ben is an expert on all things Serie A and has produced a number of features and news articles for FootItalia as well as UK-based outlets such as HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport and Betfair. In the US, Ben has been published on ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
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