Manchester City highly likely to sanction sale for first-team defender after Champions League final disappointment

Kyle Walker is expected to leave Manchester City in the summer transfer window amid interest from England and abroad, as per reports.

The 33-year-old has been a pivotal member of Pep Guardiola’s side since his high-profile switch from Tottenham in 2017, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a long-awaited Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

Having maintained a strong relationship with Guardiola through his ups and downs in a sky blue shirt, the England international has established himself as a key figure and a respected, senior voice in the Manchester City dressing room.

However, the England international saw regular minutes hard to come by towards the latter stages of the 2022/23 campaign as Guardiola placed his faith in his strong centre-half battalion to provide cover in the wide defensive positions.

Joao Cancelo, a regular at full-back since 2021, joined Bayern Munich on loan in January amidst discontent over reduced minutes following the emergence of academy teenage star Rico Lewis, who has shown maturity beyond his years in the first-team setup this term.

Nathan Ake became Guardiola’s confidante at left back at the cost of Sergio Gomez, who joined City from RSC Anderlecht last summer, and John Stones switch into a defence-midfield hybrid role with Manuel Akanji rotating with Walker on the right side of a three-man defence.

It is worth stating that Walker’s experience and pace came in clutch when the Sheffield-born defender was called upon to face the trickery of Vinicius Jr. over two legs in City’s Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid.

With a year left on his current deal, there have been no indications of Manchester City wanting to extend Walker’s tenure in the north-west and a departure is likely for the full-back.

As reported by Sam Lee of The Athletic, Walker has been discontent with his playing time over the course of the season and starting from the bench in the Champions League final came as a huge disappointment to the Englishman.

A transfer abroad is a possibility for Walker as Manchester City enter the market in search of a new addition at right-back. Sources have indicated to The Athletic that a parting of ways is timely ahead of the new campaign.

Sheffield United have registered an interest in bringing back Walker to Bramall Lane following their promotion to the top-flight, with the defender also attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, as per talkSPORT.

In further information provided by 90Min’s Graeme Bailey, it is reported that Sheffield United are prepared to offer the veteran defender a three-year contract, while Aston Villa and West Ham are also ‘keeping tabs on his situation’ at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City would be keen to get all major incomings and outgoings completed before Guardiola’s squad report for pre-season training in July.