Kyle Walker is close to completing a permanent move to Burnley and end his eight-year tenure at Manchester City, according to reports.
Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan but the Italian giants opted against triggering their option to purchase the right back.
The 35-year-old has hopes of making the World Cup squad next summer and wants to reach a century of England caps before calling time on his career, currently sitting at 96.
Keen to still play at a high level, Walker will reportedly stay in the Premier League as he is currently taking medical checks for the newly-promoted Burnley, as per The Athletic.
Walker’s contract with the Clarets is believed run until the summer of 2027, keeping him at the club until he is 37.
The ex-Tottenham defender would re-unite with Burnley boss Scott Parker, whom he played alongside during the latter’s two seasons at the north London club between 2011 and 2013.
Kyle Walker is reportedly close to completing a permanent move to newly-promoted Burnley
The Man City star would reunite with Clarets boss Scott Parker, whom he played with at Spurs
Walker joined City eight years ago, making 319 appearances and winning 15 trophies since
Burnley will pay City £5million for Walker if all bonuses are fulfilled – a tenth of what the Sky Blues signed him for back in 2017.
Walker has enjoyed an illustrious career at the Etihad, winning a staggering six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
At City, Walker not only won these 15 trophies and made 319 appearances, but also cemented himself as one of the greatest right backs in Premier League history.
But his spell in Milan was less glistening.
His Italy switch came amid family drama off the pitch, with Walker fighting for his marriage with the mother of four of his children, Annie Kilner, after also fathering two kids with his influencer ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman.
After a bright start to life in the country’s fashion capital – going unbeaten in his first three starts – Walker’s form drastically dipped as Milan finished a surprisingly low eighth place in the league.
The Italian press reacted harshly to his spell in Serie A, with Tuttosport even claiming that failure has the face of [Kyle] Walker’ in a brutal assessment of his career in the country.
Walker earns around £175,000 per week at City. The details of his proposed Burnley have not entirely been disclosed, but it is likely his pay will be slashed at Turf Moor.
Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan but struggled at the Italian club
In January, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Walker asked to leave City at the end of the season
Walker may suit up at the Etihad again as soon as this September, with Burnley set to play City away on gameweek six.
Ahead of this summer’s transfer window, Pep Guardiola’s side were linked with a host of right backs who could be signed to fill the void created by Walker.
These include: Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, Juventus duo Nicolo Savona and Andrea Cambiaso, and Wesley – who plays for Brazilian club Flamengo.
However, none of these potential moves have gained significant traction yet.
In January, Guardiola publicly confirmed Walker’s intention to leave City at the end of the season.
The Catalan tactician said after leaving Walker out of City’s squad for their 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford on January 11: ‘Two days ago, Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career.
‘In his [Walker’s] mind, he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play the last years [somewhere else] for many reasons.’
