by Pep Guardiola is moving to find a solution if captain Kyle Walker leaves Manchester City this month.
The veteran right-back has told the club that he wants to move and play the remaining years of his career abroad.
The 34-year-old played a vital role in City’s success under Guardiola, helping the team to 17 trophies – including six Premier League titles and the Champions League – during his eight years at the Etihad Stadium.
He would leave a void but, while City may not have a ready-made replacement, Guardiola is confident in the resources he has – and his ability to make the most of them.
“I’m so smart,” the city manager said. “I’m such a talented manager at finding the right solution.”
Asked if he thought he had the players to succeed Walker, he said: “Yes. »
Youngster Rico Lewis is the obvious alternative having impressed in the position previously and indeed having been preferred to Walker in recent weeks.
Walker has not started since the December 15 defeat to Manchester United after fitness issues were followed by poor form. He was then left out of the matchday squad for Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Salford after expressing his desire to leave.
Other options would include centre-backs John Stones and Manuel Akanji, although both have had injury problems this season, and even midfielder Matheus Nunes.
Walker has been linked with AC Milan and the club would not stand in his way if a suitable offer was received for a player contracted until the summer of 2026.
In the meantime, he will continue to train as normal and could return to the count for the champions’ trip to Brentford on Tuesday.
Guardiola told a press conference: “Look, Kyle is our player at the moment. That’s all. We have a choice.
“What will happen, I don’t know. Stay – we will be happy. If he has to leave, it will happen. I don’t want to add anything else. Brentford is my priority at the moment.
Walker’s situation could, however, accelerate City’s attempts to sign players in this month’s transfer window.
With a long injury list compounded by recent results – a run of one win in 13 games at the end of 2024 – City have unusually decided to explore the winter market.
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush and Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov are said to be targets.
After several years of success with a settled but now aging squad, this indicates that a changing of the guard is coming and Guardiola accepts, in hindsight, that perhaps the refresh should have come sooner.
He said: “We knew at the start of the season that the team, within a reasonable time frame, would have 10, 11 players over 30.
“But the same team that is over 30 years old, five or six months ago, won a fourth Premier League in a row.
“We knew that sooner or later we would have to do it, but what happened was not planned.
“The best way is to do it gradually, but after the injuries – wow – maybe we should have done it.
“But you never know in this position. I think the team is really good and the group is really, really good, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we achieved last season.
