Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker reportedly plans to stay at the club this summer amid interest from AC Milan and Aston Villa.
The England international has been an undisputed starter for Pep Guardiola since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2017, but a change in shape has led to questions over his long-term future.
Guardiola has often utilised John Stones in an inverted role in recent weeks, thereby switching to a three-man rearguard as the Englishman joins Rodri in midfield.
The Catalan coach bluntly admitted earlier this month that Walker was incapable of playing in that role, adding fuel to the fire surrounding a possible move away this summer.
Serie A champions Milan and Villa are both believed to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Walker, whose contract at the Etihad Stadium expires at the end of next season.
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However, the Daily Star reports that the right-back is not planning to depart this summer and intends to see out the final year of his £120,000-a-week contract.
While he has been forced to fight for his place more often than not recently, the report adds that Walker is happy to stay and battle for a starting role in the 2023-24 campaign.
Furthermore, the Premier League champions could apparently demand as much as £25m to sell the 32-year-old in the upcoming window, while his six-figure weekly wages would also prove problematic.
However, Walker - who will turn 33 next month - could very well depart when his contract expires in 2024, and he would not be short of suitors despite his advancing years.
The England international began his footballing career at Sheffield United, joining the Blades' youth academy in 1997 and spending 12 years with the club before being signed up by Spurs.
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Walker would apparently jump at the chance to represent Sheffield United again, and should he remain on the books at Man City, he will meet his boyhood club next season following their recent promotion back to the Premier League.
Man City coughed up £46.6m to prise Walker away from Spurs six years ago, and the defender has amassed six goals and 18 assists in 243 appearances for the Sky Blues since.
A largely unproductive 2022-23 campaign has seen Walker set up just one goal in 28 games, but he has played the full 90 in each of the Citizens' last three Premier League wins against Leicester City, Arsenal and Fulham.
Walker has formed a part of four Premier League-winning teams under Guardiola, as well as collecting four EFL Cup crowns, one FA Cup and two Community Shields.
Goals from Erling Braut Haaland and Julian Alvarez sent City back to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday, one point clear of Arsenal with a game in hand.
Ben Knapton
