After a glittering eight years at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker looks set to leave and begin a new chapter this summer.
Everton have emerged as unlikely frontrunners for the 35-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan.
Fulham have also shown an interest in England international Walker, who started under Thomas Tuchel in the recent defeat to Senegal, but the Cottagers were unable to meet his wage demands according to The Sun.
One of Pep Guardiola’s early signings at the club in 2017, Walker has been an integral part of the Manchester City dynasty. Winning 17 trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, Walker’s blistering pace and near-faultless reliability got the Citizens out of many a problem on the way to glory.
When it was announced that the club captain was being allowed to depart on loan in January after a short dip in form, it came as a shock to many. This latest news that he is set to depart permanently will not be as surprising, but it means that Guardiola is left with the difficult task of replacing one of the club’s greatest-ever defenders.
Walker will leave a legacy which will be difficult to match, but we identified three players who could be handed the baton and trusted to be his successor at right-back for years to come.
Tino Livramento
Reported to be City’s top target at right-back, Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento has all the qualities necessary to shine at the top and begin a legacy of his own.
It may be difficult to prise the 22-year-old away from Newcastle though, as Fabrizio Romano recently reported on X that negotiations with City over Livramento are currently “complicated” and “on standby” as the Magpies refuse to lower their asking price, which has not been publicly revealed.
City may see it as a promising sign that the Magpies are reportedly considering making an offer for PSG right-back Nordi Mukiele according to FourFourTwo, though this may be to provide cover rather than to replace Livramento.
The chances of Livramento signing for the Citizens may look ambitious at present, but the England U21 international would complete an outstanding summer of business should the Sky Blues manage to secure a deal.
Andrea Cambiaso
Another player reported to be on Guardiola’s shortlist to replace Walker is Juventus star Andrea Cambiaso, who is comfortable playing in both full-back positions.
The 25-year-old was the subject of previous interest from City in January, but a transfer didn’t materialise. Sky Sports Italy have reported that in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cambiaso claimed that he has not asked to leave Juventus and is happy in Turin.
Dynamic at both ends of the pitch and capable of driving forward with the ball or stepping into an inverted full-back role, Cambiaso can be seen as the perfect Guardiola player, tactically aware and open to being moulded into any role.
It remains to be seen whether Cambiaso can be persuaded to leave the Italian giants, amidst rumoured interest from the likes of Napoli and AC Milan. Man City will hope to be at the front of the queue if a move away for the Italian international does become a reality.
Rico Lewis
An option already in-house and not requiring City to break the bank, it will be interesting to see if Guardiola puts his faith in academy graduate Rico Lewis if he cannot secure his major full-back targets.
Lewis has been at City since the age of eight and has been a part of Guardiola’s first-team squad since late 2022, when he made his first Premier League start shortly after his 18th birthday.
Known as a supremely gifted footballer with the ability to play in a variety of positions from a young age, the now 20-year-old has gained influence season on season, though he is yet to nail down a consistent starting spot in the side.
Eyebrows were raised when Guardiola often opted to start midfielder Matheus Nunes at right-back ahead of Lewis last season, but the five-cap England international still made 21 Premier League starts last campaign, the majority coming at right-back.
The opinion still remains that Lewis may at some point find a home at the base of City’s midfield, but the addition of Tijjani Reijnders and the return of Rodri mean this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
The young starlet may yet get the chance to flourish as a right-back if Guardiola decides to trust him with the responsibility of succeeding Walker. As a local lad, Lewis will know what a great responsibility this is.