Premier League Giants To Move On From Sheffield United Academy Product In The Summer | OneFootball

Kyle Walker returning to Sheffield United has seemed to be a topic of discussion for the last three or four years, and it has emerged once more.

According to TalkSport, Manchester City are prepared to move on from Walker at the end of the season, with the 34-year-old set to receive very lucrative deals from both the Middle East and the United States.

The right-back has been vocal about rejoining his boyhood club, the Blades, towards the back end of his career. And with United potentially in the Premier League next season, perhaps there’s no better time than this coming summer for him to make a move back to Bramall Lane after 15 years away.

Earlier this year, Walker explained to Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast that, “I don’t want to drop too low [down the divisions], I think it gets harder – certain things you have the luxury of having at City – facilities or nutrition – but I’d like to finish at Sheffield United.”

One could argue that Walker has quite simply achieved everything you could possibly achieve as a professional footballer; he has six Premier League titles to his name, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and a Champions League winners medal. The only thing remaining would be a trophy of some kind for England to go along with his 93 England caps. And to go with his glory he has earned generational wealth.

Therefore, a move to the Blades does seem plausible, but he will of course have to take a massive pay cut. Would he really turn down ridiculous wages from Saudi Arabia or America to come and finish off his career at Sheffield United?

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Marcus Tudgay of Sheffield Wednesday is challenged by Kyle Walker of Sheffield United during the Coca-Cola Championship match between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane on September 18, 2009 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Kyle Walker’s Unfinished History With Sheffield United

Kyle Walker started his career at the Blades, spending 11 years in the academy, between 1997 and 2008. He made only two senior appearances for United, including impressing in the 2008/09 Championship play-off final. His display caught the attention of Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, who signed him and then immediately loaned him back to Sheffield United, where he racked up a further 26 appearances.

Let’s just say in a perfect world, the Blades do get promoted this campaign. This would give the club a bigger budget to spend on fees and wages, regardless of the ownership situation.

United would also be waving goodbye to a number of loans in the summer, one of which is the current right-back Alfie Gilchrist, who’d go back to Chelsea. This would leave only Femi Seriki as an option for right-back entering the summer. Whilst Seriki has looked brilliant this season, surely the football club would love to bring Walker in, not just to be the main starter and probable captain of the team, but also to mentor Seriki – a player who has quite similar physical traits to Walker, and obviously both graduating from the famed Shirecliffe academy.