Manchester City and Tottenham have entered talks over the potential transfer of Kyle Walker, according to BBC Sport.
Journalist Simon Stone claims: “Negotiations for the England international are at an early stage, and no fee has been agreed.”
The news follows a report in The Times suggesting Kieran Trippier has signed a new five-year contract with Spurs, confirming him as the club’s first choice right-back.
Trippier emerged as Pochettino’s preferred right-sided defender towards the end of last season following a reported row between the Tottenham boss and Walker.
Pochettino is believed to have concerns about the 27-year-old’s fitness and ability to play more than one game a week, something Walker strongly disagrees with.
As a result, Trippier started to be picked ahead of Walker for big matches, and Walker has been linked with a move to Manchester City ever since.
The transfer could drag on until the end of the transfer window with Spurs seemingly unwilling to budge on their £40 million valuation of Walker.
I think you should go to #mancity your 1of my highest rated players n I think you will accomplish more under pep because he wants the best out of his players so its up.to you walker do you wanna be fits or second choice right back?#og
What?
You don’t think Pochettino wants the best out of his players? You haven’t been paying attention!
I don’t know why the author of a Spurs article is sticking to this pathetic £40 million valuation nonesene. That was just the amount City had their friends in the media put out as how much they were “prepared to pay” as part of the now familiar traditional Iberian tapping-up process perfected by Real Madrid. Daniel Levy will be demanding far more.
Also, anyone who imagines Daniel Levy would let everyone know he was ready to start negotiations now as he signed a replacement for Walker must believe he has the negotiating skills of a lobster. Trippier is the competition not the replacement. His contract extension has no bearing on any deal to sell Walker.