The veteran England international joined the San Siro club during the January transfer window in an attempt to get his season back on track on a personal note, having endured various difficulties at the Etihad Stadium.
Fitness and injury concerns, coupled with private matters away from the football pitch, led to Walker targeting a new challenge elsewhere in European competition, opting not to take up possibilities in Saudi Arabia, for example.
While the agreement between Manchester City and AC Milan for Kyle Walker is only temporary, the two clubs agreed upon a purchase option for the defender which can be triggered at a price of €5 million this summer.
However, matters do not appear so straightforward on the right-back’s future, both in terms of whether AC Milan really want to retain the 34-year-old into next season, and particularly at the cost first stipulated in January.
According to the information of Italian outlet Calciomercato, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Milan believe that while Kyle Walker is a reliable player for them, the Englishman is past his best and as such a judgement over a permanent move is ‘suspended’.
With regards to a possible transfer fee, the report claims that Milan will not trigger their €5 million purchase option, but instead look to execute a deal at around €1 million to €2 million while still wanting to see more of the defender in the weeks that remain this season.
Regardless of what the future holds between AC Milan and Kyle Walker, Manchester City appear highly unlikely to reintegrate the defender into their first-team set-up for next season amid widespread changes during the summer market.
Should a permanent switch to the Italian giants not come to the fore, then Walker is more likely to seek out new options including an emotional return to his boyhood club Sheffield United, or perhaps adventures into the Middle-East or United States.
From the perspective of Manchester City, Etihad Stadium recruitment bosses remain interested in the services of versatile Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso, and there is a growing feeling in Italy that the player himself shares an interest in a transfer.
