Kyle Walker Next Club Odds: AC Milan leading the charge for wantaway Manchester City right-back

 

“Two days ago, Kyle [Walker] asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career,” Pep Guardiola said after Manchester City’s 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford. Walker has helped City to 17 trophies since his arrival from Tottenham in 2017, and did come close to joining German giants Bayern Munich back in 2013. 

 

However, he’s expected to depart for pastures new before too long, and not a moment too soon as far as some City fans are concerned. Walker’s lost that half-a-yard of pace in his advancing years, and that hasn’t aided City through a tough season so far. Indeed, the 34-year-old is the Cityzens’ worst rated player in the Premier League this season having returned a WhoScored rating of just 6.27. 

 

 

City are also performing significantly better without Walker in England’s top tier. In the nine games the England international has featured in from the outset, the defending champions’ win rate is just 11.1%, a hefty drop from 81.8% from the 11 games he hasn’t started. Many felt City should have cut ties with Walker back in the summer even if it had left them short of options at the back, though few could have predicted the club’s hefty injury crisis over the course of the campaign. 

 

A transfer abroad is now expected this month, with a host of Europe’s recognisable sides linked with a move for the experienced full-back. Italian side AC Milan are the current 1/3 favourites to sign Walker in the winter window, though with the Serie A powerhouse also eyeing up Marcus Rashford; that may complicate any potential move for the City right-back. 

 

AC Milan already have three English players on the books in Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham. Brexit-related registration rules states that AC Milan could only have four English players on the books and with the Italian side eager to sign compatriot Rashford; the Rossoneri have a decision to make. 

 

 

Might that pave the way for AC Milan’s city rivals Inter to make a move? Simone Inzaghi’s side are at a best price of 6/1 to sign Walker this month, while Juventus are at 12/1 to secure his services. Walker could also seek a huge payday in the twilight years of his glittering career, with a move to any Saudi Pro League side currently at 3/1. If AC Milan are unable to shift any of their current English players and prioritise a move for Rashford, then we may yet see the former Spurs man link up with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez in Saudi Arabia. 

 

Walker has been one of the Premier League’s most successful right-backs, but all good things must come to an end. Having struggled in the opening months of the campaign, it’s no shock he’s keen to leave City this month.

Kyle Walker Next Club Odds: AC Milan leading the charge for wantaway Manchester City right-back