According to reports in The Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker is on the verge of completing a joint world-record move to Manchester City after the two clubs agreed a £50m deal for the right-back, and they could sign £22m-rated FC Porto star Ricardo Pereira to replace him, according to the Evening Standard.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the England international has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad all summer with Pep Guardiola keen to sign a new right-back after releasing Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna this summer.
The Spaniard looks set to wrap up a £50m deal – which equals the record fee for a defender that Chelsea paid when they signed David Luiz last summer – for the 27-year-old having missed out on Dani Alves to Paris Saint-Germain, with Walker unlikely to report for pre-season training with Spurs on Friday as the move edges closer, according to The Telegraph.
The defender’s own future at White Hart Lane had looked increasingly uncertain after he was left out of the side in favour of Kieran Trippier for the FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea and the final ever north London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane towards the end of last season.
Will he be a good signing for Manchester City?
Considering they don’t currently have a senior right-back, then he certainly is.
But in all seriousness, the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the best in his position for club and country over the course of the past few seasons and he has helped Tottenham twice compete for the Premier League title.
His pace and ability to get up and down the pitch will be crucial to Guardiola’s side next season, and it will be interesting to see how well he does.
What will Tottenham do now?
Despite the fact that Tripper impressed when he featured at right-back or right wing-back last season, it still seems likely that Spurs will swoop for a Walker replacement given some of the rumours that are flying around.
The north London outfit have been heavily linked with a £22m move for FC Porto’s Ricardo Pereira, with the Portuguese player impressing during a two-season loan spell with French side Nice.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, Tottenham will be pleased that their asking price for the want-away defender has been matched and with Trippier already in place and another addition in the right-back spot likely, they should be more than covered there next season.
WATCH THE LATEST 442OONS VIDEO BELOW…