Kyle Walker set to stay at Manchester City after Bayern Munich transfer U-turn

Kyle Walker has decided to stay at Manchester City, despite reaching a previous agreement to join Bayern Munich.

Walker had last month verbally agreed terms with the Bundesliga champions after commencing talks over a potential summer move in June.

But the clubs had not settled on a fee at that stage and the 33-year-old has changed his mind as it stands, following talks with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Walker is now considering whether to accept City’s second contract offer, which is worth more than Bayern’s.

Follow the summer transfer window with The Athletic…

The Premier League champions have always hoped to keep Walker beyond next summer.

They have already lost experienced players in Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez this window, while contract talks with Bernardo Silva are continuing amid interest from PSG, Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.

Retaining Walker’s services would maintain depth and variety in City’s defence as the club’s only senior full-back.

Though Rico Lewis provides another option on the right, City are already trying to offload two defenders in Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo.

Despite winning back his place and starting 11 of City’s last 13 matches of the 2022-23 season, Walker was dropped for the Champions League final against Inter Milan and played only the final few minutes as a late substitute.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender made 39 appearances in all competitions for City last season, with 31 of those from the start.

GO DEEPER

'He wants perfection' - why the first season under Pep Guardiola is always so tough

(Photo: Getty Images)