According to reports, Pep Guardiola will be making a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s right back Kyle Walker. The rise of this 26-year old to prominence hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Spanish gaffer and he has told the City hierarchy to consider signing the English international.
Alongside Dele Alli and Danny Rose, Walker has also played a vital part in Spurs’ stand-out season and has been a regular starter under Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino’s team has been one of the foremost attacking sides in the Premier League for the last couple of seasons and their defence has complimented their entire attacking philosophy very well.
Guardiola believes in homegrown players and has used this strategy in every club he has managed thus far. In Barcelona, he had a bunch of insanely talented players from the La Masia academy while at Bayern Munich, he introduced a host of German players from the fringes to the starting lineup.
Walker has recently pledged his long-term future to the club and Spurs’ would demand a fee in the excess of £30m for the fullback. City haven’t strengthened their full back section in the last winter transfer window but Guardiola is expected to invest heavily to rope in a few side-backs in the next summer. Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna are in their late thirties and have passed their prime while Aleksandar Kolarov has been used in the central defence mostly.
Guardiola has the eye to recognise talent. He brought Leroy Sane and John Stones in the summer and both have exploited their trade in their respective sections. Pep recently heaped praised on a number of Spurs players including Walker which might be an indication to one of the most hyped transfers of this season.
Walker started his football career at the age of seven at Sheffield United. He had a number of loan stint at various clubs before joining Spurs in 2009. But the North London club immediately sent the player back to his former club on loan. After another couple of loan spells at various clubs, he finally burst onto the scene in 2011.
Walker was severely criticised for the last few seasons for underperforming but from last season he has been a completely different player. Walker’s form has left Nathaniel Clyne on the bench as the 26-year-old has emerged as the first choice right back for the Three Lions. Guardiola has been searching a full back who can break into the opponent territory with his blistering pace and marauding run through the flanks and Walker fits the bill perfectly.
