Pep Guardiola says James Trafford will "absolutely" stay at Manchester City in January despite rumours linking him with an exit after just six months.

Trafford moved to City in July 2025, signing a five-year deal and initially made three straight Premier League appearances.

However, following Gianluigi Donnarumma's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, Trafford's game time has dried up.

He is set to be brought into City's line-up for their EFL Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday, but he is being linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium next month, with the hopes of getting a place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.

Guardiola, though, is confident he will still have Trafford in his squad for the rest of the season.

"Absolutely [he will stay]," Guardiola said.

"He's an incredible keeper. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi is the first-choice keeper, but he is an incredible keeper.

"I know the position of the keeper is so special, and during the year, in one game, you can change.

"The keeper position is special. He is with us and will be with us this season, and after we will see what happens."

Guardiola will be without key names, with Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Jeremy Doku is out injured.

The Belgian missed their win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, and the City boss revealed he could be without Doku until next year.

"I don't know [a timeframe]; two or three weeks maybe," said Guardiola. "I think New Year and Sunderland. We will see."

City endured just their second trophyless campaign under Guardiola last term, and are looking to win the EFL Cup for the first time since 2020-21.

City are set to ring in the changes for the midweek tie, but the Spaniard is keen to avoid repeating the error of their Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, when they lost 2-0 after making 10 changes.

"I know they [Brentford] are good, they are top, the problem against Leverkusen was not having a father figure on the pitch," he said.

"There are players where it is not about their quality; it is about how they lead and about being safe. Some players, because of age or the process, are unable to say: 'It doesn't matter what happens'. But other players, they make their team-mate think: 'I am safe' and will behave how they do.

"I have to find that. That is a lesson I learned: that you have to find that balance. But of course, there are players with lots of minutes. We travelled to Crystal Palace, and three days later we play – we don't have much time to recover.

"I have to, with the physios and doctors, see because the really important game is West Ham [on Saturday]. After West Ham, we have seven days to recover [for Nottingham Forest away], but West Ham, I'm sorry, it's so important."