United And City To Go All Out For Spurs Star
Reuters / Carl Recine
Manchester United and Manchester City are set to be involved in a bidding war for Kyle Walker.
According to reports in the London Evening Standard, the England International is open to a move away from White Hart Lane in the summer. This has alerted several of England’s top clubs, with Manchester rivals United and City being tipped as the main competitors for his signature.
Walker has had a magnificent season for Spurs yet again, and has been crucial to his team’s attempt – albeit a failed one – to pip eventual winners Chelsea to the Premier League title.
The 26-year-old has made 38 appearances in all competitions for the North London club, and his incredible season was recognized, as he was deservedly awarded a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season.
Walker is currently Tottenham’s longest serving player, but he may well leave the club in the upcoming transfer window. Spurs already have a ready-made back up in Kieran Trippier, who has been superb when he has played.
Trippier has recently been favoured by manager Mauricio Pochettino, who decided to leave out Walker for the two recent high profile clashes against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final defeat, and against Arsenal in the North London Derby in the Premier League.
The right-back currently has a contract with Spurs that runs till 2021, and knowing the shrewd businessman that chairman Daniel Levy is, it is unlikely that Walker will leave the club for anything less than an enormous fee.
According to Express Sport, Manchester City are willing to offer up to £45 million for the English defender. Pep Guardiola is keen on bringing in some defensive reinforcements to reinvigorate his ageing defense.
Reuters / Phil Noble
City do not have a full-back below the age of 30 at the moment, and with the club recently confirming Pablo Zabaleta’s departure in the summer, it is likely that Guardiola will go all out to sign Walker. Reports also suggest that the Citizens will go for Juventus’s Alex Sandro, and the pair should link up nicely if both moves go through.
At cross-town rivals United, Jose Mourinho has been left disappointed by his options at the full-back positions and is keen on bolstering his defense in the summer. Luke Shaw has failed to convince Mourinho of his abilities, and Matteo Darmian has been average at best.
Ashley Young has proved to be reliable backup, and Antonio Valencia has been a mainstay at right-back this season, but with both players not getting any younger at the age of 31, Mourinho will be keen on signing players who would be long-term options. Hence, Walker would prove to be the perfect signing as he still has his best years ahead of him.
Written by Reyhan Ashley Nath 
Manchester United fan, Wayne Rooney is his role model. Passionate writer who has written for several sites in the past. He’s also an aspiring pianist and creates background music for BlameFootball’s Youtube channel.