From Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City star prepares for showdown talks with Pep Guardiola regarding future

Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker will hold talks with manager Pep Guardiola regarding his future at the club.

The England international, who has been heavily linked with a potential permanent move to Bayern Munich, is contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2024, but made only 31 starts for Manchester City last season, a joint-lowest total since joining from Tottenham.

Walker has played a crucial role to Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola, winning 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles, since swapping north London for east Manchester in 2017.

The 33-year-old featured in 39 matches for City during the treble-winning campaign, but didn’t start the UEFA Champions League Final against Inter Milan in Istanbul last month, despite starring in the semi-finals versus Real Madrid.

Walker is widely reported to have given the ‘green light’ for a transfer to Bayern Munich, however Manchester City remain keen on keeping hold of the Englishman, and have offered the right-back a new two-year contract.

The Bundesliga champions are yet to find an agreement with Manchester City to sign the defender, with the Sky Blues due to face the German club in a pre-season friendly next week, in Japan.

Manchester City were due to report back to the City Football Academy to begin pre-season preparations on Monday, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that Walker was set for showdown talks regarding his future.

The 33-year-old is set to speak with Guardiola about his future before the City squad travel to east Asia on Wednesday, with the conversation reportedly ‘crucial’ to the full-back’s next decision.

Serie A side Juventus have shown a late interest in signing Walker, should the Englishman leave Manchester City this summer.

The Sky Blues have already lost club captain Ilkay Gundogan and are bracing themselves for the departure of Riyad Mahrez, who looks set to complete a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli.

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