Gary Lineker had a few choice words to say about Kyle Walker’s transfer fee as he moved from Tottenham to Manchester City.
Kyle Walker clinched a move to Manchester City last week, with Tottenham cashing in for a staggering £53 million, The Guardian reported.
It is a world record fee for a defender, ensuring Walker’s every touch will be scrutinised more closely than ever.
Manchester City and England’s Kyle Walker
Former Spurs striker Gary Lineker took a dig at Walker after the move, asking how much more he would cost if his crossing ability was better.
Is the criticism unfair?
The statistics suggest Match of the Day host Lineker is more accurate than Walker’s crossing.
Kyle Walker in action
Measured across the last three seasons combined, Walker has delivered 69 fewer accurate crosses than the player replacing him at Spurs – Kieran Trippier.
This is despite Trippier playing in 25 fewer games.
| Team | Chances Created | Accurate Crosses | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kieran Trippier | Tottenham / Burnley | 84 | 105 | 56 |
| Kyle Walker | Tottenham | 84 | 36 | 81 |
To Walker’s credit, he has still managed to create additional chances to record an overall of 84 in three seasons, but the majority have come from shorter more incisive passes, rather than direct crosses.
Even so, Trippier is far more prolific on a per game basis, and the figures show why Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino were so content to take Manchester City’s substantial offer.
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