Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Should Manchester City continue their spending spree by signing Tottenham’s Kyle Walker?
Pep Guardiola has wasted no time this summer, coming off the back of possibly his worst managerial campaign to date. The Manchester City boss has already signed Bernardo Silva and has also touted many others as potential additions, such as Benfica goalkeeper Ederson, who has already agreed a £35 million move to join the Etihad outfit, according to .
Guardiola has also carried out somewhat of an upheaval with Pablo Zabaleta, Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero all leaving for free. While the Argentinian’s exit means that a new keeper is needed, it’s the full-back area of City’s side that is most depleted.
Both their right-backs have left the club after a season in which they only really played because Guardiola had no other options. Sagna and Zabaleta both portrayed signs of their age, unable to meet their manager’s demands as they enter the twilight years of their respective careers.
Guardiola has clearly identified this spot as an area that needs improvement, and it is no surprise to see them linked with the world’s best. Arguably only Dani Alves and Dani Carvajal are currently better than Tottenham’s Kyle Walker and the Englishman could be a Manchester City player within the next fortnight, according to sources.
It has been reported that Walker fell out with Spurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino, midway through the season – as reported by the – and it was clear to see as Kieran Trippier played numerous games towards the end of the campaign as the Lilywhites applied the pressure on eventual league champions Chelsea.
The state that Pochettino feels Walker cannot play two intense games a week and the Englishman disputes this. Amidst the alleged tension, Walker knows full well that he could double his £70,000-per-week salary at Manchester City.
He would join the Citizens as their number one option and would certainly be capable of fulfilling Guardiola’s needs. The Spaniard likes his full-backs to come inside and fill the central areas, while he also demands that they get up and down the flanks throughout the game. Fernandinho gained game time in the right-back slot last season due to his ability to do exactly that.
For Tottenham, Walker was solid both defensively and offensively last season. In terms of helping his team at the back, the Englishman won 67% of his headed duels while making 53 tackles and completing 100 clearances.
Going forward, the Englishman was one of Tottenham’s most creative outlets, setting up 39 key opportunities – no Spurs defender made more. In fact, in Pochettino’s side, he was only bettered by the attacking quartet, Christian Eriksen, Deli Alli, Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min.
Walker would give City a different dimension down the right, able to overlap his winger for 90 minutes. With new signing Bernardo Silva, a left-footed play maker, who likes to cut inside, expected to start on the right, a partnership between Walker and the former Monaco star could help City flourish next campaign.
Featured Image: All rights reserved by .