Manchester City defender Kyle Walker appears ready to do so leave He will remain with the club until at least the end of the season as he wants to fulfill his ambitions of playing abroad and getting his personal life in order.
Walker, 34, has struggled with poor form this season, made more apparent by City’s shocking results since the start of November.
After links with AC Milan earlier this month, city rivals Inter are likely to take the six-time Premier League champions on loan initially.
The Daily Mail reports that a proposed deal with Inter is “virtually completed”, with the Serie A side keen to take on Walker’s wages as they look to strengthen their defence.
City are “unlikely” to stand in the player’s way if everything is acceptable to them, citing the expected timeframe in which all of this will be completed as “next week”.
Walker was already interested in joining Bayern Munich before last season, the same summer that former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Harry Kane signed for the Bundesliga giants.
It remains to be seen whether this will be a permanent move to Inter beyond the end of the season – Walker is under contract with City until the summer of 2026. But not only will he realize his dream of playing football abroad, but perhaps even came at the right time for his family.
Walker was reportedly on the verge of divorcing his long-term partner Annie Kilner in early 2024 after his personal life exploded when it was revealed he had fathered a second child with influencer Lauryn Goodman. This bombshell came at the same time that Kilner was pregnant with their fourth child.
After moving out of the family home, Walker spent Christmas with his wife and their children post also reports that they are planning to move to Italy together as a family of six. Meanwhile, Goodman is said to be contemplating her own move to Dubai with the other children and is said to be asking Walker for permission to rent out a house he owns and where she currently lives following her move to the Gulf.
City boss Pep Guardiola openly confirmed after Saturday’s FA Cup win over Salford City that Walker is exploring options to leave the club this month.
“Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the possibility of playing abroad at the end of his career,” Guardiola said. “He asked for the treble two years ago. Bayern Munich wanted him, but the offer wasn’t good enough.
“I am convinced that there is no one in our job who does not want to be where they are, [and] can carry out. He asks to explore [the options] So it may not happen, we don’t know, you never know. Explore the situation and I respect it very much. I am beyond grateful for what he has done for us over many years.”
Walker joined City from Tottenham in the summer of 2017 and has made 319 appearances.