Sheffield United have been linked with a shock move for Kyle Walker but the Premier League newcomers have got ‘no chance’ of luring the treble-winner away from Manchester City.
That is the view of Simon Jordan; the talkSPORT co-host who knows a thing or two about finance at the top level of English football after a decade at the helm of Crystal Palace.
Even if Kyle Walker does leave Manchester City – The Athletic believe that a summer departure is genuinely on the cards with just one year left on his contract – a team who finished second in the Championship would be hard pressed meeting the experienced right-back’s wage demands, even if he is willing to accept a major pay cut on his current £160,000-a-week contract (Spotrac).
Jordan, meanwhile, believes that – even if a return to the Steel City may appeal to Sheffield-born Walker – the now-33-year-old still has plenty of life left at the very highest level.
Sheffield United linked with Kyle Walker return
“No chance. With all due respect to Sheffield United, this is a top, top, top, top, top, top, top player,” Jordan tells talkSPORT (15 June, 11am).
“(Walker) still has legs left in him. So he’s not going to be going to Sheffield United. And how can they afford him? How can they afford £200,000-a-week?”
Walker came through the academy at Bramall Lane, making his first-team bow in the red-and-white stripes back in 2008. After a spell at Tottenham Hotspur, the five-time Premier League champion then joined forces with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Walker became the most expensive defender of all time when he put pen to paper with the Etihad Stadium outfit for a fee of £50 million.
TalkSPORT add that clubs in Saudi Arabia are also interested in Walker, alongside City team-mate Riyad Mahrez.
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, meanwhile, has indicated that the Blades are unlikely to bring in players with a proven track record in the Premier League, instead finding themselves under pressure to box clever and scour the market for bargains.
“We did well last year at this time of the season. And it set us up really well,” Heckingbottom tells Examiner Live. “I think it is going to be more difficult this season.
“We have gone up another level and (with regards to) the calibre of player we want to attract. But arguably we probably can’t attract the ready-made Premier League players.
“So we are going to have to be really good and clever in the recruitment. Unearth some players with potential that can go and cope with the level that we are playing at.”
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