In the midst of an intriguing transfer saga, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has vowed to put up a fight to keep hold of the seasoned defender, Kyle Walker.
The 33-year-old has recently engaged in discussions with Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champions, expressing his interest in moving to the Allianz Arena.
Kyle Walker, a prominent figure in the Manchester City squad, has enjoyed six fruitful seasons at the Etihad Stadium. During this time, he has featured in 254 matches for the Citizens across various tournaments, claiming an impressive 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the coveted Champions League.
However, the 2022-23 campaign witnessed a shift in Walker’s fortunes, as he lost his regular starting position during the latter half of the season.
Notably, he was left out of the starting lineup in the Champions League final, where Manchester City emerged victorious against Inter Milan.
With the summer transfer window in full swing, Walker finds himself at a crossroads in his career. The English international is intrigued by the prospect of joining another top European club, where he can be assured of regular first-team football ahead of representing his country at Euro 2024.
As it stands, Walker’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire in the summer of 2024. The club has offered him a one-year extension, but Bayern Munich has tabled a more enticing deal—a two-year contract with the option of an additional 12-month extension.
The anticipation surrounding Walker’s future intensified as Manchester City and Bayern Munich are scheduled to clash in a pre-season friendly at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
During a press conference before the match, Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Bayern Munich, refused to comment on the speculations linking his team to Walker. Guardiola, who followed Tuchel at the press conference, echoed similar sentiments, opting not to address the matter directly.
Nonetheless, Guardiola emphasized Walker’s “irreplicable” qualities, expressing his eagerness to retain the seasoned defender. According to the Manchester City manager, Walker possesses specific attributes that are hard to come by globally, making him an indispensable asset to the squad.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding Walker’s future, he started as captain in Manchester City’s recent pre-season friendly win against Yokohama F Marinos, and Guardiola confirmed that he would be available for selection in the upcoming clash against Bayern Munich.
As Manchester City navigates through the summer transfer market, they have already bid farewell to Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
Additionally, Riyad Mahrez’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli is believed to be imminent. The future of other key players like Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte remains uncertain as Guardiola’s side continues its pursuit of top target Josko Gvardiol.