Liverpool are reportedly considering a shock transfer for Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker, who has been strongly linked with a move away from the Etihad this summer.
Kyle Walker has been heavily touted to be leaving treble-winners Manchester City this summer, and now it’s revealed that Liverpool are one of the suitors for the 33-year-old defender, according to the Daily Mail.
Walker has established himself as a key figure in the dressing room presence for Pep Guardiola’s side since arriving from Spurs in a deal worth up to £50 million in 2017. So far, he has helped his team lift five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one UEFA Champions League trophy in these years.
However, the 75-cap England international has been rumoured to depart the Etihad Stadium ahead of the upcoming 2023–24 season. The 33-year-old saw his impact and first-team berth in City’s treble-winning campaign wane as the season progressed. Boss Pep Guardiola opted for a 3-2-4-1 formation, which saw Walker often left out of the starting lineup on many occasions.
He also did not start in the Champions League final triumph against Inter, with Manuel Akanji being favoured ahead of Walker, which further sparked rumours of the England international being open to a move away.
It also makes a lot of sense, as this could be the final opportunity for City to recoup a fee for Walker, with the player in the final 12 months of his contract. Needless to say, there are plenty of Premier League sides keeping an eye on Walker’s situation, namely his boyhood club Sheffield United, West Ham United, and Aston Villa.
That said, the club most interested in securing the England international’s signature have been Bayern Munich, who are reported to be in advanced negotiations to sign the City defender in a £15 million deal. However, in a surprising change of stance, the Cityzens have now opened negotiations about extending his current deal, with the player keen to stay put with the Premier League champions.
According to the Daily Mail‘s Jones, Liverpool have surfaced as another potential suitor for Walker in the recent past. The link is quite a shock, and it would be difficult to see such a transaction take place between the English Premier League rivals.
After all, Liverpool have been City’s main rivals for the Premier League title in recent times, and there is no way that Citizens manager Pep Guardiola will want any of his players to move to Anfield, especially after watching his former players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus propel Arsenal to Premier League title contenders following their respective moves.
And Walker himself may not be too keen on leaving City for Liverpool, knowing only too well the rivalry between the two teams in recent years.
Above the rivalry, though, it’s quite interesting to know the Reds boss is looking for a high-quality replacement in the right-back position, perhaps to reposition Trent Alexander-Arnold closer to the midfield next season. In fairness, Walker would have been some pick and would definitely add skill and experience to the Reds’ backline.
He’s still regarded as one of the top right-backs in the world, and he’s invincible on his flank. However, he is currently negotiating a contract extension with City after a change of heart, it seems.
