Premier League giants poised to make move for Manchester City’s Kyle Walker

Manchester City’s veteran right-back Kyle Walker is reportedly set to attract transfer attention from elsewhere in the Premier League.

The former Tottenham defender has seen his role change slightly so far this season, with manager Pep Guardiola often utilising his right-backs as a second defensive midfielder alongside Rodri in the centre of the park.

As such, Kyle Walker has often found himself starting certain contests on the substitutes bench, and waiting for opportunities where the Manchester City boss looks to implement a more traditional flat back-four.

Across all competitions so far this season, Walker has registered 25 appearances, providing just a singular assist in the goal contributions department, and averaging 69.1 minutes per appearance for Manchester City.

With Walker’s contract currently set to expire in the summer of 2024, and some figures within the Etihad Stadium holding reservations regarding a contract renewal, the Sheffield-born defender has now found himself linked to a move away from Manchester City.

According to a new report from Football Insider, Aston Villa have set their sights on signing Kyle Walker from Manchester City this summer, with the 32 year-old on the club’s radar as manager Unai Emery seeks to strengthen in the role.

It is claimed that the Spanish coach wants a ‘proven performer’ at right-back who could ‘immediately slot into the starting eleven’, and believes Manchester City’s vastly-experienced defender meets that criteria perfectly.

Should Kyle Walker make what many would deem a shock move to Villa Park in the coming months, then it would be a transfer that would mark a return to the club after a short spell on-loan from Tottenham in the 2010/11 campaign.

Across 18 appearance in all competitions for Aston Villa, Walker scored two goals – once against his former and boyhood club Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round, as well as a fine strike in the Premier League against Fulham.

Manchester City are not understood to be seeking any big-money acquisitions at right-back ahead of the new season at present, however the situation could very quickly change should a move for Walker become a more realistic possibility.

Rico Lewis, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji have all featured at right-back under Pep Guardiola at various stages of the ongoing season, all to a very high-standard.