Manchester City to open talks with Tottenham for top target

Manchester City will open talks with Tottenham about signing Kyle Walker this week, reports The Daily Mirror.

Pep Guardiola has earmarked Walker as one of his top transfer targets this summer and he is reportedly willing to pay out in excess of £40m to secure the services of the right-back.

City are expected to sign at least three full-backs this summer after releasing Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta at the end of last season and Walker is at the very top of Guardiola’s wishlist.

Walker only signed a new five-year deal with Tottenham back in September but fell out with manager Mauricio Pochettino towards the end of last season and now looks set to leave the club this summer.

However, Tottenham will not let the England international go cheaply and there have even been suggestions they will look to command as much as £60m in the wake of Southampton’s valuation of Virgil van Dijk.

City have already spent more than £70m on the combined signings of Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson, but Guardiola’s expenditure is expected to break the £300m mark this summer as he aims for a complete squad overhaul.

No defender registered more assists in the Premier League last season than Walker (5).

For more stats on Kyle Walker, click here to visit his WhoScored player page