Kyle Walker, the Manchester City defender, is allegedly close to a permanent move to Bayern Munich.
Since being withdrawn from the starting lineup for the Citizens’ Champions League final victory against Inter Milan last month, the 33-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium.
Walker has been linked with a return to childhood club Sheffield United, who have gained promotion to the Premier League, but perennial Bundesliga winners Bayern appear to be first in queue for his signing.
Walker is said to prefer to stay at Manchester City, who have begun negotiations with the right-back about extending his contract, which expires in June 2024.
Walker, on the other hand, wants assurances about playing time next season before representing England at Euro 2024, so leaving this summer may be the best option.
Bayern have held negotiations with Walker regarding a move to the Allianz Arena over the last week, with head coach Thomas Tuchel thought to have chosen the experienced defender as a replacement for Joao Cancelo, who has had his loan term from Manchester City expire.
The Bavarian giants have now given Walker a two-year contract with the possibility of a 12-month extension, according to German news site Bild.
Bayern Munich have typically only granted one-year contracts to players beyond the age of 30, but they are thought to be willing to breach this ‘unwritten code’ in order to get Walker to Germany.
Bayern Munich confident of signing Kyle Walker
According to the source, Bayern executives are in “intensive talks” with Walker’s representatives, and an agreement is “imminent.”
If Walker agrees on personal terms, Bayern will negotiate a transfer fee with Manchester City, who are thought to value the defender between €20m (£17m) and €30m (£25.5m).
Walker has made 254 appearances for Man City across all competitions in his six-year stint at the Etihad, including 31 starts in 39 games during the club’s historic treble-winning season in 2022-23.
Walker was momentarily pulled out of Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup in the second half of the season, with the Catalan manager claiming that the Englishman “cannot play” in the inverted full-back role that John Stones thrived in following the World Cup.
Nonetheless, Walker reclaimed his place in Guardiola’s starting lineup, albeit on the right side of a back three, and started 11 of City’s final 13 matches in all competitions.
Walker has five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields, and a Champions League to his name with the Citizens.
Should Walker leave the Etihad this summer, Guardiola has Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis in his roster, all of whom can play on the right side of defence.
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