Man City star reaches £13m ‘agreement’ to leave club as ‘priority’ replacement identified

Kyle Walker has reportedly agreed terms with Bayern Munich over a summer move from Manchester City.

Reports last month claimed the 33-year-old was interested in joining the German champions, bringing to an end his six-year stint in Manchester - and fresh claims on Friday state Walker has edged closer on making the move to Bayern.

Journalist Nathan Gissing tweeted to say the City defender said ‘yes’ to a move to the Bundesliga side, with a contract agreed until 2025, with the option of an additional year. Meanwhile, Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed on Twitter that it’s now over to the two clubs to agree a fee, with a price of around €15m (£12.9m) plus add-ons suggested.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, however, has reported that some ‘some details’ of the contract offer aren’t clear and added a deal is ‘not done yet’. The Italian journalist also tweeted to say City have already identified their ideal replacement, with Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard ‘top of their list’.

“Pavard is Man City’s priority in case Kyle Walker will join Bayern, deal advanced on player side but not completed yet,” he wrote. “Bayern and City will discuss about Walker and Pavard.”

The latter’s ability to play at right-back and centre-back could appeal to Pep Guardiola, who moved away from traditional full-backs during the 2022/23 campaign. The City boss selected four centre-backs - Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake - for the Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, a decision that is believed to have frustrated Walker.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur man played 39 games in all competitions last season for City, but struggled with injuries in the early periods of the campaign. In six years at the Etihad, Walker has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the Carabao Cup on four occasions and claimed a maiden Champions League winner’s medal in Istanbul last month.

Should he leave City, the England international will be the second player from the club's treble-winning side to depart this summer, following Ilkay Gundogan's move to Barcelona on a free transfer. Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez have also been linked with transfers this window.