From Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City player’s future enters crucial week following Champions League Final omission

The future of Kyle Walker at Manchester City could be decided this week, as the Englishman continues to be targeted by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Walker, who joined Manchester City from Tottenham in 2017, has been linked with a potential exit from the Etihad Stadium after starting just 31 matches last season and not being named in the starting team for the UEFA Champions League Final last month.

The 33 year-old has won 14 trophies including five Premier League titles during his time at Manchester City, though the full-back has been subject to transfer interest after entering the final 12 months of his current City contract.

The England international has been strongly linked with a potential move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, while boyhood club Sheffield United and fellow Premier League pair Aston Villa and Newcastle have also been mooted.

The full-back could still sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium despite interest from Germany, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that City are ‘insisting’ on extending the 33 year-olds contract and continuing negotiations.

Bayern Munich are still ‘pushing’ to sign the England defender however, with the next week ‘crucial’ in regards to Walker’s destination for the new campaign.

Manchester City have already lost a senior squad member in club captain Ilkay Gundogan, while Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte are all tipped for possible exits this summer.

A decision over Walker’s future could also be determined by Pep Guardiola’s decision to continue using four centre-backs, as deployed during the UEFA Champions League Final against Inter Milan in Istanbul.

City are reportedly closing in on a record-breaking deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, which could further impact the 33 year-olds minutes next season, with City bidding to win six trophies.

Sam Lee revealed that the Premier League champions are not in the market for ‘up and down’ full-backs in this summer’s transfer window, with the plan for next season being to continue with a four centre-back approach.

City are still set to sell full-back Joao Cancelo, who dramatically quit the Etihad Stadium in January following a training ground bust-up.