Kyle Walker is negotiating a contract extension with Manchester City amid interest from Bayern Munich
Manchester City purportedly initiated contract extension talks with Kyle Walker in an effort to ward off Bayern Munich’s interest.
The 33-year-old has spent the last six years at the Ethiad Stadium, where he has made 254 appearances and won 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
In the 2022-23 season, Walker made 39 appearances as Pep Guardiola’s side became the first English club in nearly a quarter century to achieve the treble.
During the second half of the season, however, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis were at times preferred on the right side of Guardiola’s defense, threatening the defender’s regular starting position.
Walker was conspicuously absent from the starting eleven for City’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, despite having started 11 of the club’s final 13 matches across all competitions.
Prior to representing England at Euro 2024, Walker is rumored to be open to the idea of joining a club that guarantees him frequent first-team action.
Bayern Munich, perennial Bundesliga champions, has recently emerged as a strong contender to acquire Walker this summer and reportedly made progress in negotiations with the defender.
Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Bayern Munich, has identified Walker as the ideal replacement for Joao Cancelo, who will return to Manchester City after spending the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at the Allianz Arena.
The German titans are also concerned about the long-term futures of defenders Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, who are believed to be seeking a new challenge elsewhere, with the latter reportedly being a Paris Saint-Germain target.
It is believed that Bayern Munich and Manchester City are negotiating a contract for Walker, which could cost Bayern between €20 million and €30 million.
Nevertheless, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Citizens are in contract extension discussions with Walker and remain optimistic that he will commit his future to the club.
When his present contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 season, City’s No. 2 could leave Etihad Stadium for nothing.
Walker has also attracted interest from boyhood club Sheffield United, where he began his career and made a total of 35 appearances – the majority during a loan spell in 2009-10 after signing a permanent contract with Tottenham Hotspur.
The 75-time England international, who is currently with Gareth Southgate’s squad ahead of Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at Old Trafford, is also reportedly of interest to Saudi Arabian clubs.
Kyle Walker is negotiating a contract extension with Manchester City amid interest from Bayern Munich
