Kyle Walker issues formal request to leave Manchester City this month reveals Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City’s club captain, Kyle Walker has requested to leave the Etihad Stadium during the ongoing January transfer window.

The 34-year-old, who was omitted from the City matchday squad for Saturday evening’s 8-0 thrashing of Salford in the third round of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium, has not started a game for Pep Guardiola’s side since mid-December.

Walker was voted in as Manchester City’s club captain following the exit of Ilkay Gundogan, and agreed a two-year contract extension with the Sky Blues back in September 2023, keeping the full-back in east Manchester until 2026.

The England international has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, and has been a long-term target for a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia, who renewed transfer interest in the defender last summer.

Kyle Walker’s future looks set to be decided in the ongoing January transfer window, with Pep Guardiola revealing that the 34-year-old defender has formally asked to explore options and leave the club, in a dramatic escalation.

“Two days ago, Kyle (Walker) asked to explore the options to play abroad and end his career,” revealed the Catalonian coach on Saturday evening,” Pep Guardiola told reporters at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend.

“He (Kyle Walker) went to Txiki Begiristain. For that reason I prefer to play (players) whose mind is here.”

Walker has started just 11 matches for Manchester City this season, and the club captain has not started a fixture since the Blues’ 1-2 loss to Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in mid-December.

The defender’s request to leave the Etihad Stadium at the midway point of the campaign is the latest major January transfer twist involving the reigning Premier League champions, with the Sky Blues attempting to sign a new trio.

Manchester City are on the verge of completing a deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov, and are pushing to sign Vitor Reis from Palmeiras and Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.