AC Milan are considering making an offer for Kyle Walker, who may leave Manchester City if his situation does not change.
According to The Times, Kyle Walker has emerged as a target for AC Milan in the summer. The Manchester City veteran could seek a change of scenario if his situation at the club does not change. The right-back lost his place in recent months, with his style no longer fitting Pep Guardiola’s system.
Pep Guardiola is often known to abruptly change systems, which tends to affect the styles of several players. It is not the first time the Catalan manager has deployed a new way of playing; this time, Kyle Walker has suffered from the tweak.
Guardiola took his time to understand how he could invert the right-back position and experimented with young Rico Lewis. After allowing the 19-year-old regular game time in the side, the manager soon started playing John Stones in that role, and the Englishman has hit the ground running.
Similarly, he somewhat tweaked how his left back played and soon started deploying a back-three instead of someone exclusively playing at full-back. That may have been the reason for Joao Cancelo’s abrupt exit on loan in January, as the Portuguese international joined Bayern Munich.
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Now, as Guardiola makes changes at right-back, Walker has seen his game time reduce drastically. It has come to a point where the England international is considering his future at the club. Aston Villa have already shown an interest in signing the experienced star. But others are also in the chase.
AC Milan have now shown an interest in signing Walker, who may not have a place in the squad next summer. Guardiola’s recent comments over the changed position and where the Manchester City veteran stands have hinted at a possible departure.
Guardiola said, “He [Walker] cannot do it. To play inside you have to make some educated movements. He has other characteristics. “He will always have pace. He will be the fastest in this room at 60 years old.”
“The reason why is tactical. It’s not because we lost faith in Kyle. He can play coming inside and he has done it many times, but like in the position [against] Liverpool with Rodri and John Stones, he will maybe need time to do it and we don’t have time.”
Meanwhile, AC Milan chiefs are considering making an offer for the Manchester City veteran. While Walker has yet to lose characteristics to his game, he may only not fit the current system. He could do that at San Siro, as Stefano Pioli wants someone to compete with Davide Calabria.
Pioli has often used Pierre Kalulu in the absence of Calabria but would need a solid enough option for next season. Walker could become that, and his potential knocked-down price could entice the Serie A giants to bid reasonably in the summer.
Like many other English players in recent years, Walker could find his feet in Italy and have a different environment to further his career. For now, these are only rumours, but Milan could become an interesting option for the Manchester City veteran if he chooses to leave.
