Manchester City take on Sheffield United tomorrow at Bramall Lane – and Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom been speaking about Kyle Walker in the lead up to the game.
City are looking to make it three wins on the spin, after victories over Burnley and Newcastle United.
Standing in the way of three points are a Sheffield United side who have lost their first two games.
And it does get any easier for the Blades with last season’s Treble winners City coming to town.
One of the narratives ahead of the game relates to Walker.
Walker, of course, started his career at Bramall Lane.
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And manager Heckingbottom has admitted he would love to work with him…
Paul Heckingbottom wants Kyle Walker Sheffield United transfer
Earlier this summer, Walker was actually linked with a move back to Sheffield United, albeit pretty briefly.
Walker was then seemingly set to go to Bayern Munich.
But the 33-year-old has stayed but – and there has been talk of a potential contract extension for the full-back.
Asked if a move for Walker was ever realistic, Heckingbottom said bluntly (Sheffield Star): “No, some of the names you’ve been throwing at me this summer have made me laugh.”
Heckingbottom will not be landing Walker this summer – that is for sure.
But the Englishman was unable to hide his desire to work with Walker in the future.
He added: “One hundred percent. I’d be interested to see how fit he looks and what he thinks about the game now. The clubs he has been at and how he has learned. I’m just interested in how long he wants to go on for at the top.”
Walker going nowhere this summer, but fairytale return to Sheffield United is possible
Walker will not be leaving City this summer which is fantastic news.
He is still very much at the top of his game, and is clearly greatly appreciated by Pep Guardiola, who has been handing him the captain’s armband a lot lately. Only a few months ago, Gary Neville hailed him as ‘unbelievable’ on an episode of Monday Night Football.
It is possible that Walker could go back to Sheffield United in maybe a couple of years.
There is probably a reasonable chance it will happen in a few years.
But whether Heckingbottom is still in the hotseat is obviously another thing…