After eight successful years at the Etihad Stadium, a place where the 35-year-old has won everything, it has already been decided that Walker will not be a Man City player next season and that the Englishman will have to find a new club this summer.
Walker decided to join AC Milan on loan in January, and the Italian club had a buy option clause in the right-back’s contract should they want to make the defender’s move a permanent one this summer.
Having featured for the Serie A giants 16 times over recent months, AC Milan have now decided on whether they will be activating Walker’s clause ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Last week, Walker appeared in the promotion of AC Milan’s new home jersey for next season, and many believed that was a hint that the defender would remain in Italy next season.
That is not the case, as Daniele Longo has reported that Milan will not activate the buy option clause in Walker’s loan contract and as a result, the 35-year-old will return to Man City.
This will leave Walker’s career in limbo as there is no clear path for the Englishman to go down at present, but clubs will certainly show interest over the coming weeks now that his situation is clear.
Walker hoped to stay at Man City for the 2025/26 campaign, but that is not going to happen, as the Manchester club are already searching for his replacement.
Man City are keen to add a right-back to their squad this summer, and the Manchester club are believed to have a list of four targets.
Flamengo’s Wesley is one of Man City’s top targets, with the Brazilian said to be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium, while Newcastle’s Tino Livramento is high on the list of the Premier League giants
The other two options remain unknown, but they will very likely come to light as the transfer window moves on.
Replacing Walker will be a hard task for Pep Guardiola this summer, given how important the defender has been for Man City over the last eight years, with the 35-year-old set to go down as a club legend after everything he achieved at the Etihad Stadium.
