Kyle Walker absent from Manchester City training as European giants close in on permanent transfer | OneFootball

AC Milan are closing in on the permanent signing of Manchester City captain, Kyle Walker following a request from the player to leave the Etihad Stadium.

The veteran England international was a surprising omission from Manchester City’s matchday squad against Salford City in the FA Cup third round this weekend, with the official line being that his absence was due to ‘tactical’ reasons.

However, speaking during his post-match press conference from the Etihad Stadium, manager Pep Guardiola opted to detail the truth behind Walker’s absence from the team that reached the fourth round of the cup in style over the League Two side.

“Two days ago, Kyle (Walker) asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career. He asked two years ago after the Treble. Bayern Munich wanted him but the offer was not good enough,” Guardiola revealed.

“He went to the club. I’m pretty convinced there is not one person in our job that doesn’t want to be where they are and can perform. He’s asking to explore (options) so it may not happen, we don’t know, you never know,” he continued.

“Explore the situation and I respect a lot… But he has said he wants to explore in his mind and in his heart and wants to explore it. Honestly? I don’t know what is going to happen.”

In the immediate aftermath of Guardiola’s revelation, reports from across Europe began to circulate information that directed Walker towards a move to the Italian game, and links to AC Milan have intensified over the space of 24 hours.

Now, according to the information of The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Milan are closing in on the signing of the Manchester City captain and will look to finalise a move for the defender early this week on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The report details that former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now an advisor at AC Milan, has played an important role in putting together a deal for Kyle Walker, and the Italian club are set to offer a deal until 2027.

In terms of the expectations on the defender despite his performances this season for City and his age, The Telegraph report that the 34-year-old is poised to compete for a first-team spot at the San Siro, with the expectation of him pushing for a regular place.

In a further development to the situation, Mike McGrath reports that while Kyle Walker was at the Etihad Stadium to watch Saturday evening’s 8-0 win over Salford City, he did not train on Sunday at the City Football Academy.

This is a developing story. More to follow.