Manchester City’s club captain Kyle Walker is at the centre of a transfer battle in the lead-up to the latest edition of the global summer transfer window.
The 34-year-old has been criticised intensely from supporters during the opening half of the ongoing season on social media for his underwhelming and increasingly faltering performances for Manchester City.
Despite the rise of Rico Lewis, and other options at right-back including Manuel Akanji and John Stones, Pep Guardiola has continued to turn towards Walker for his supposed pace and physicality in the more intense contests.
However, that pace is diminishing and Kyle Walker has been relatively easily beaten by the likes of Fulham’s Adama Traore, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, and Tottenham’s Timo Werner in recent Manchester City contests.
And as Manchester City are bracing themselves for major transfer activity across January and the next summer markets, Walker may be one of the ageing contingent within Pep Guardiola’s squad that could be allowed to leave.
According to the information of talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Championship high-flyers Sheffield United are now interested in re-signing Manchester City’s club captain and England international.
It is explained that Walker is one of the players that City officials will consider moving on at the end of the ongoing season, as Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain plot out the next phase of the squad under Pep Guardiola.
Amid uncertainties over Walker’s long-term future, the report states that it is expected that the former Tottenham man will receive lucrative offers from both Saudi Arabia and the MLS, alongside the possibility of Sheffield United emerging as an option.
Should Walker find a way out of the Etihad Stadium and perhaps secure a move to the last top-level club of his professional playing career, Manchester City are widely expected to source a direct replacement.
With Rico Lewis utilised more frequently in the defensive midfield role, and the player himself targeting a future in attacking midfield, Manchester City have reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong as their long-term successor to Walker.
Previous reports speculating on the future of Manchester City’s right-back role had pointed towards Chelsea’s Reece James as a player of interest. However, maintained fitness problems with the Englishman are likely to have turned Etihad Stadium eyes elsewhere.