Leading contenders emerge in the race to sign Kyle Walker as the Man City captain pushes for an exit.

A clear frontrunner has emerged in the race to sign Kyle Walker after the Manchester City captain expressed his desire to leave the club.

Walker was omitted from Man City’s squad for their 8-0 victory over Salford in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Following the match, Pep Guardiola revealed that the 34-year-old had asked to explore opportunities abroad. Speaking via Sky Sports, Guardiola said:

“Two days ago, Kyle expressed his wish to consider options overseas to finish his career. He wants to explore a move to another country for various reasons. For this reason, I prefer to use players whose focus is fully here.”

Walker, who joined City from Tottenham in 2017, has had a stellar career with the club, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League as part of their treble-winning campaign.

However, his future appears to lie away from the Etihad, with AC Milan emerging as a leading contender to secure his signature. According to The Telegraph, Milan are keen to finalize a deal next week and are optimistic about completing the transfer.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Milan are pushing for a free transfer, despite Walker having 18 months left on his contract. They hope City will allow him to leave without a fee during this window.

Walker is open to hearing Milan’s offer but is also attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

This season, Walker has faced criticism for his performances, making 18 appearances across all competitions. Despite his recent struggles, Guardiola praised his contributions, stating:

“We can’t imagine our success over the years without Kyle. He has been crucial for us and the national team. But he feels a desire to explore new opportunities. Honestly, I don’t know what wil

l happen next.”