Report: Man City shelve contract talks with £50m star despite key squad role

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Manchester City have reportedly shelved contract talks with Kyle Walker until after the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite the England right-back being one of Pep Guardiola’s most important players.

According to the Daily Star, the reigning English champions will not sit down with the 32-year-old defender over a new contract until this winter’s World Cup has concluded, with Walker currently having just 20 months left on his current deal which is due to expire in the summer of 2024.

Walker is regarded by many as one of City’s most important players since joining the club from Tottenham in 2017 for a reported £50m, with the right-back starting six of the club’s seven Premier League fixtures this season, where the defender has recently picked up an injury.

A four-time English champion with the Manchester giants, City signing Walker down to a new contract, even at his current age, would be a good move from Guardiola’s side given how important the defender is both on and off the pitch for the Etihad Stadium side.

Walker’s game has evolved to match with the current pace of the Premier League, something that has made the 32-year-old still one of the best in his position in world football, and City tying the defender down to a new deal will be huge for the club’s ambitions heading into the future.

Indeed, the defender has remained physically one of the best in the Premier League and is still one of the fastest players in all of Europe, and for City, keeping Walker at the club into his mid-thirties will be a wise decision given how much the former Tottenham star still has to offer.

Walker must sign new Manchester City contract if offered the chance

City’s recent record of handing new contracts to key players has been quite impressive, to say the least, and Walker must be next for the Manchester giants if they’re to maintain their club model of keeping their biggest and best at the Etihad for the best years of their career.

Although Walker could arguably be about the pass his peak, the right-back will still be an outstanding member for City’s squad in the years to come, and signing a new contract will be massive for the Cityzens hopes of having a fully fleshed out squad for both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.