29 April 2023 , 20:27
569
0
Kyle Walker is intent on seeing out the final year of his contract with Manchester City - even though Pep Guardiola has made it clear that the defender isn't suited to his current set-up.
The England right-back, whose current terms are worth around £150,000-a-week, is due to become a free agent at the end of next season. And a host of clubs, including Aston Villa and Serie A giants AC Milan, are currently keeping tabs on the 32-year-old.
But Walker has no appetite to move on from the Etihad Stadium in the summer and will stick with the Premier League champions for the 2023/24 campaign.
Although the veteran is no longer an automatic starter for Manchester City, who are still in the running to clinch a historic treble, he is happy to stay and fight for a place in Guardiola's side, according to The Daily Star.
City would demand a fee of around £25million to part ways with the four-time Premier League winner in the summer. But Walker's willingness to bide his time means he'll have his pick of clubs next summer as a free agent.
Pep Guardiola went back on his word after blocking last-ditch Barcelona transfer
Speaking earlier this month, Guardiola admitted that Walker doesn't have the credentials to fill the inverted full-back role that the Spaniard has opted to deploy this season. But he was quick to stress that Walker has plenty of other credentials that will still prove valuable to the champions.
Join the debate! Where do you think Walker should move to if he does decide to leave Man City next summer? Let us know here.
Kyle Walker is set to rebuff transfer interest in the summer to see out the final year of his contract at Manchester City (Getty Images)When he was asked about Walker's ability to fill said role, Guardiola said at the start of April:"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, he will maybe need time to do it and we don't have time.
"What they have to do is two things. Don't complain or there will be a problem. And try to do it better and better so when I need them, they will be ready. Look at Nathan this season. Last season he didn't play one minute and now he is undroppable.
"It happens. Nobody has a guarantee with me. They have to earn it and sometimes we need a different shape for the way we build up or defend. Some players adapt better than the other ones. They take it personally but we are not against them."