Given: Trafford Is a Brilliant Goalkeeper & He'll Push Pickford All the Way For England

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Irish football legend and former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has run the rule over the goalkeepers making headlines this summer.

Given has explained why he felt for James Trafford at Manchester City , why Leeds United are getting a brilliant goalkeeper, and why Nick Pope will have a fight on his hands at Newcastle United under a new manager.

The former Ireland international has also assessed Senne Lammens at Manchester United , why Jordan Pickford and Everton suit each other so well, and what the future holds for Emi Martinez at Aston Villa .

James Trafford

Is Leeds United the Perfect Move For Trafford?

Last summer was very, very tough on James Trafford . He was strongly linked with Newcastle United, and by all accounts, I think they were more or less there with a deal done to bring him in, but Manchester City had that option to bring him back. They did that, and Pep Guardiola told him you're going to be my number one, you're going to play, and they even gave him the number one jersey. All of that. Then two weeks later, they signed Gianluigi Donnarumma .

I really felt for Trafford because he had an amazing time at Burnley . I think he broke all the clean sheet records that season and was really on top of his game, even talked about pushing Jordan Pickford all the way for the number one jersey in the World Cup . Then, through no fault of his, in my opinion, the big man turns up from Italy who's not a bad goalkeeper either, and Trafford was parked up for the season. I'm not shocked to see him moving to a club like Leeds United . I believe he's already a top goalkeeper. I just wish he was going to Newcastle United this summer because he's brilliant, and he's got a huge future ahead of him.

What I love about James Trafford is that he's got a real calmness about him when he plays, and I think Leeds will be getting a brilliant goalkeeper if that deal gets across the line.

Can Trafford Replace Pickford as England's Number One?

All the goalkeepers around the England setup are mates, and they support each other and Jordan Pickford when he plays, but they'll all be desperate to take his place. That's just human nature, and James Trafford is no different. He'll feel that he'll want to play in the next major tournament, and of course, they will have trained closely all summer, too. Thomas Tuchel will have had a really good look at Trafford , seeing his strengths and what kind of goalkeeper he is, and what kind of person he is too. You need that in a goalkeeper too. Personality. I think Trafford is a good person to have around the group.

He'll be pushing Pickford all the way every week at Leeds . There's no doubt about that, and Jordan knows that too. That's the position you're in when you're number one for your country. You know someone's trying to get the jersey off your back. It's not rocket science. He knows he has to stay at the top of his game.

Newcastle's Number One

Is Nick Pope Still the Right Man For Newcastle?

Do Newcastle United need to sign a new goalkeeper this summer or stick with Nick Pope ? There's an opening in the squad now that Aaron Ramsdale went back after his loan, and they've already signed a young goalkeeper, but he's maybe one for the future. They've been heavily linked with different goalkeepers in the last few weeks, and it sounds like they feel they need to bring someone in. James Trafford was the obvious one, but it looks like they've lost out on him. That tells me Nick Pope will have a fight on his hands this season, but I still think he's got a lot to offer too.

I don't think it's the case that the club signs some new guy and Nick gets parked up. There will be a real challenge for that number one jersey, and it'll depend on the manager coming in after Eddie Howe too. How will he want to play? If he wants to play with his goalkeeper as an extra outfield player on the ball, that may not be Nick 's strongest point. But if you're asking someone to keep the ball out of the net, come for crosses, then you've certainly got the right goalkeeper.

Eddie Howe was quite pragmatic. When Aaron Ramsdale played, he was a bit better with the ball at his feet. When Nick played, they didn't look to play out so much at the back. He was going a bit more direct to the forwards and playing from there. You play to your strengths, and it'll be interesting to see what the new guy does and the style of goalkeeper he wants if they do bring someone new in.

Old Trafford

Will This Season Be the True Test of Senne Lammens?

I think Senne Lammens has got the lot. He's been a breath of fresh air for Manchester United . I was surprised Ruben Amorim didn't put him straight in as they signed him because Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir weren't at the level required, if I'm being brutally honest. The first Manchester derby after they signed him could have been his first game. Manchester City put Gianluigi Donnarumma straight in. I think Amorim hesitated because Lammens is younger and less experienced in such a big game, but I would have chucked him in too because he plays with such calmness. Nothing seems to faze him.

He was really unfortunate at the World Cup . I think it's 10 times harder to come off the bench as a goalkeeper than an outfield player. If you're a midfielder, you can get the ball, pass it back and get a feel for the game. The first thing Lammens had to do was deal with a shot he would save 99 times out of 100 and hold on to it. Yes, he did a quick warm-up on the side of the pitch, but that shot would have been the first time he really felt the ball in probably two hours. He fumbled it, and it was a really bad mistake to knock his country out of the World Cup . There will be mental scars from that, but he's come back to Manchester United , and he'll have time to process that.

I like Senne Lammens a lot, I really do. I don't think Manchester United have any problems when it comes to his position now in goal, and they've got it wrong so many times in the past. I think Lammens has got a big future ahead of him and he's the sort of goalkeeper that walks onto the pitch and makes everyone feel more secure. They all feel they can trust him. They know he's going to be a seven or eight out of 10 at least and is going to save them.

England and Villa

Are You Surprised Pickford Hasn't Been Linked With a Move?

Jordan Pickford has been at Everton for nearly 10 years now, and he's been England number one for most of that time too. I think he broke the appearance record for competitive games in major tournaments in an England shirt at the World Cup ? It is strange that we haven't heard of other clubs moving in for him during that time. Maybe he's just really well-settled at Everton . We obviously don't know if there have been bids for Jordan over the years, but there's usually a sort of goalkeeper merry-go-round some summers, like how we talk about managers moving on.

Jordan has been in the game for so long you think he must be 34 or 35, but he's only 32. I moved to Manchester City when I was 33, and goalkeepers in general get better with age as well. He's got many years left at the top level, but maybe Jordan is happy where he is. You'd think Chelsea would be on the phone tomorrow and jump at the chance to sign him if he gave them any encouragement. It does surprise me that we don't see any rumours around him because some of the saves he produces for Everton are just phenomenal. I remember him tipping one over the crossbar from Sandro Tonali at St James' Park last season. It was unbelievable, but he has that in his locker.

He's a bit of a steady eddy, and if you think I'm playing him down by saying that, I'm not. I'm playing him up. When you've got a goalkeeper who is that steady, it's a real plus, and he's got a real personality. Some people say it can spill over at times, but it shows his passion and hunger and desire for the team to do well. It's his will to win. You can't coach that or teach it. It's just who he is, and I don't mind that at all.

Is Emi Martinez Here to Stay at Aston Villa?

Emi Martinez only arrived at Aston Villa when he was 28, and what he's achieved in winning the Europa League last year and the World Cup with Argentina is incredible, and it's an unbelievable example for any young goalkeeper coming up through the lower leagues. He was a backup goalkeeper and a number two at these bigger clubs, and he's the perfect example. He just kept going and pushing himself, and you can imagine the days at Arsenal when he was training every day thinking I'm not going to play this weekend. Fast forward 10 years and he's picking up back-to-back Golden Glove awards and a World Cup winner's medal. It's such a brilliant story.

I saw that he ran on to the pitch for a pre-season friendly for Villa and he got booed by some of the English fans over what happened with Argentina in the summer, but that's all part of it. He's so passionate about his country, and that's just the nature of the beast, isn't it? He's another goalkeeper like Jordan Pickford who has that personality. Martinez is a real character, and I think he plays up to that, getting the crowds going and winding people up. He plays on the edge a little bit.

I don't know if there is an opportunity for him to leave this summer, but if he does have offers, it would be another opportunity for Villa to make good money to invest into the team in other ways. I don't think Marco Bizot is a bad goalkeeper. He could be a ready-made replacement. Aston Villa are a bit like Newcastle United . They might want to keep a player like Emi Martinez , but if an offer comes in, they have to look at it and decide whether they can get someone else in for half that and rejig the team. That's the position they're in, and it's probably very frustrating for Villa fans.

Prices are subject to fluctuation.

Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.