A report has claimed that AC Milan are interested in signing Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker at the end of the season.
Walker has been an ever-present fixture in Pep Guardiola’s side since City signed him from Tottenham Hotspur for £50m in 2017, but the defender has struggled for minutes in recent months.
Now, according to The Telegraph, Italian giants AC Milan are interested in adding Walker to their squad for next season
AC Milan keen on Kyle Walker transfer
Walker started City’s 3-0 win against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, but in recent times has more often than not found himself on the bench.
The England international has started just two Premier League matches in the last two months, with Guardiola preferring to use a system that doesn’t require a conventional right-back.
With one year remaining on Walker’s City contract, Milan are looking to take advantage of the situation.
The reigning Scudetto champions are set to lose their crown to runaway Serie A leaders Napoli, although Stefano Pioli’s side do have a Champions League semi-final showdown with neighbours Inter Milan to look forward to.
Keen to bolster their squad for next season, Milan reportedly view Walker as someone who can challenge right-back Davide Calabria for minutes.
If no move materialises this summer and Walker does not renew terms with City, then he would be free to negotiate with potential suitors come next January.
MCN view: The day City fans never thought would come might be getting closer
Last season Walker was arguably more important to City than in any previous campaign, but this year it has looked like his powers have begun to wane.
While injuries have not helped his cause, when given the chance to play the Yorkshireman hasn’t looked his usual self, even if he does still possess blistering pace.
Walker’s recovery pace is a safety blanket that City used to rely on, but since January Guardiola has adopted a defensive set-up that has no room for the right-back.
City now largely played with a back three consisting of Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake with John Stones pushed up into a holding midfield role alongside Rodri.
In the early weeks of 2023 before Guardiola switched to the new formation, he favoured 18-year-old academy graduate Rico Lewis over Walker.
Guardiola recently said that Walker cannot play as an inverted full-back; that doesn’t bode well for Walker’s prospects if the City boss is to stick with his four-centre-back scheme next season.
After six years together, it might be the right time for both parties to go their separate ways. Walker has always said he would like to return to Sheffield United one day, but AC Milan would surely represent an appealing option.
