January transfers: AC Milan want Manchester City captain Kyle Walker, Pep Guardiola confirms RB's exit

Not long after Manchester City captain Kyle Walker revealed his intention to leave the club before the January transfer window shuts, AC Milan is said to have shown interest in signing the English right-back. However, the veteran defender is yet to fully make up his mind, as many clubs from the Middle East are also interested in him.

It was City gaffer Pep Guardiola himself who revealed on Thursday that Walker had asked the club’s director of football Txiki Begiristain to be allowed to leave. According to the manager, Walker wants to shift to “another country” this month. “It’s not easy for me to say because I should tell him but he’s not here so two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career,” Guardiola said.

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34-year-old Kyle Walker has 18 months remaining on his current contract with Manchester City. However, the former Tottenham star believes it is time for him to move on from the Etihad Stadium, where he won six Premier Leagues and one UEFA Champions League, among other trophies. Rico Lewis has become City's best right-back option as Walker's age has started catching up with his pace. Injuries and defensive errors have also affected the two-time FA Cup winner's performance in recent times.

Kyle Walker to AC Milan?

AC Milan is said to be the frontrunner to sign Kyle Walker, who was one of the fastest footballers on the planet in his prime. However, Manchester City sources reportedly told Goal.com that they are yet to get a formal bid for their captain as of Saturday night.

"Kyle Walker will hear AC Milan proposal as there’s also interest from Saudi Pro League clubs since last summer. Milan are keen on discussing with Walker with hope not to spend any money in transfer fee, if Man City let him leave for free now," journalist Fabrizio Romano had said on X earlier today. 

Kyle Walker became the club captain after signing a new three-year-deal in 2023. He had almost joined Bayern Munich after City won the Treble but Pep managed to make him change his mind.

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Manchester City is said to have agreed a £33.6 million deal with France's Lens for Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov and has almost struck a deal with Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt for attacker Omar Marmoush as well. The defending champions are struggling at sixth position after 20 game weeks with 34 points -- 12 points short of leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand