Manchester City defender Kyle Walker could leave the Etihad this summer after falling down the pecking order at the club and being warned that he couldn’t fit into Pep Guardiola’s new tactical plan earlier in the campaign.
The Cityzens have just ended a historic treble winning season, but are already planning for the beginning of the new one, which they kick off with a Friday evening trip to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, led by Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany.
Walker may not be a part of their squad for next season, however, with the Athletic reporting that there is a ’high chance’ he leaves this summer after slipping behind John Stones and Rico Lewis in Guardiola’s thinking.
Earlier in the campaign, the Spanish boss explained that “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.”
“He (Walker) cannot do it. To play inside you have to make some educated movements,” he added.
The Athletic add that the England international ‘has been unhappy with his playing time this season’ and could be in line for a move abroad before the start of the new season, in a bid to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s plans for next summer’s European Championships.
He will not be alone, with Joao Cancelo also expected to leave and Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez both ‘likely’ to depart amid interest in the former from Paris Saint Germain and with Saudi Arabian sides keen on 32-year-old Mahrez.
