Manchester City could be open to let their skipper Kyle Walker leave at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old right-back was absent from the Manchester City squad for their exciting 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday in the Premier League after picking up a knee problem during England’s 2-0 win over Finland in the UEFA Nations League.
With the England international heading into the twilight of his career and injuries starting to creep in, Man City and Pep Guardiola probably will be thinking to move on the ageing star and replace him internally with academy graduate Rico Lewis. Perhaps this is why the Sky Blues have reportedly slapped a price tag as low as €18m on Kyle Walker.
Walker has been a fantastic servant for City since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017, racking up 308 appearances across all competitions. He has won multiple trophies at the Etihad Stadium and played a key role in the club’s treble success during the 2022/23 season
One of the best right-backs in the Premier League era, the Sheffield-born star was a part of the England squad that reached the 2024 EURO final in the summer.
Kyle Walker’s time at Man City coming to an end?
This isn’t the first time Walker has been linked with an exit from City. He was subject of interest from Bayern Munich in 2023 as well as a return to his boyhood club Sheffield United. The English full-back’s contract at the Etihad Stadium runs until 2026, so the Sky Blues do have the next couple of transfer windows to cash in on him.
Past his prime now, Walker hasn’t been great for City this season and now remains sidelined. Perhaps, the time is right for the English champions to offload him. He is being sought by several teams, but Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli appear to be favourites for his signature. They are willing to negotiate with City for their highly successful skipper, who will turn 35 by the end of the season.
A move away from City would give Walker a fresh challenge at the fag end of his career. Now, the decision lies with him; whether to get the taste of the cash-rich Saudi Pro League like many stars have done over the years or continue his career in England.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
