Why Manchester City should keep hold of Kyle Walker amidst interest
According to The Sun, Italian giants Inter Milan are have made Manchester City defender Kyle Walker a top target ahead of the summer transfer window.
Walker, 30, who rose through Sheffield United’s youth ranks, made a name for himself with Tottenham. He spent eight years with the Lilywhites, making 229 appearances before moving to Manchester City in the summer of 2017. Since then, he has been a key member of the squad and is one of the senior players.
He has been reliable at the back for City and has helped them lift several titles, including two Premier League trophies and one FA Cup title. However, he has attracted interest from Antonio Conte’s Inter, as per the report. Thus, City should keep hold of him at least until his contract comes to an end in the summer of 2024.
City have failed to dominate the league as they did in the previous title-winning campaigns. Pep Guardiola’s men have been inconsistent on several occasions this term and are currently 25 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
However, they have been brilliant since the restart of the campaign, beating Arsenal 3-0 and Burnley 5-0. They look solid moving forward. One of the reasons for their lacklustre performance this term has been the lack of stability at the back.
The central defence has failed miserably, conceding 31 goals so far, which is poor compared to last season where they conceded just 23 in 38 games.
Walker – A reliable player for City at the back
Despite City’s lack of consistency at the back, Walker has been one of the few best defensive players this season. He has been a regular member of the squad, featuring in 22 league games. He has contributed with 1 goal and 2 assists in the process.
Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker are the only two right-backs available at Guardiola’s disposal. But the Portuguese international has seen limited game time. The former Juventus man has also been linked with a move to Barcelona in the past few months. And if this happens, City would be left with just Walker at right-back. Thus, they should keep hold of their £110,000-a-week star.
The English international has made over 400 career appearances and his experience could come in hand for City in the next few seasons. He has already proven his worth at both ends of the pitch for the Etihad outfit and is one of the leaders at the back. Thus, City must block any exit for the experienced campaigner and make use of his service for as long as possible.
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Verdict
With Cancelo’s future up in the air, City cannot afford to lose another right-back in the summer. And at 30, Walker has a few more years to play at the highest level. He is a key member of Guardiola’s squad and is capable of giving his best. Thus, they should avoid any interest from Inter Milan and keep hold of the former Tottenham man.
