Manchester City contract talks for first-team star put on hold amid recent concerns

Since his arrival in the summer of 2017, Kyle Walker has been one of the most vital cogs behind Manchester City’s ascendance in English football.

Reinventing his game under Pep Guardiola, the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back has shone in an inverted role over the years, etching his reputation as the most reliable defender in his position in Europe.

Blessed with searing pace whilst developing a tendency to snuff out any danger posed by wingers in one-versus-one battles, Kyle Walker has arguably been the most consistent performer during the Guardiola era.

As a result, it is no coincidence that the England international’s signing has coincided with the club winning four out of the last five Premier League titles, as well as a further four Carabao Cups and one FA Cup.

However, there have been signs of the ever-dependable defender slowing down since last season.

Showcasing a tendency to become injury prone in the previous term, Kyle Walker started just 20 league games, while being unavailable for four matches in the Champions League.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the Englishman picked up an injury mid-game against Aston Villa, which has kept him out of contention in the Sky Blues’ last three games in all competitions.

As indicated by Pep Guardiola, it will still take some time before the decorated defender returns to the fold.

Having turned 32 in May this year and injuries catching up to him, the question remains whether Manchester City will offer him a brand-new deal, which has been answered in a new claim.

According to a report by the Daily Star, the Manchester City hierarchy will monitor how Kyle Walker copes with the physical burden of playing at the Qatar World Cup, as well as returning to play for his club, before deciding whether they plan to extend his contract.

With the ageing full-back set to turn 34 by the time his current deal ends in the summer of 2024, the Premier League champions have delayed any contract talks for the time being.

It has been stated that while both club and player are ‘relaxed’ about the situation, it is mutually understood that a resolution will have to be reached in the summer.

#ManCity officials have decided to delay talks about extending Kyle Walker’s stay at the club beyond July 2024 until after the World Cup, according to @DailyStar_Sport.

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 17, 2022

An interesting detail that has surfaced is how Walker’s decision to continue his international career could impact whether he is handed a new deal.

Furthermore, another aspect worth taking into consideration is how the Sheffield United academy graduate plans to return to his boyhood club one day.

Kyle Walker on his future: "I'll go until my legs don't want to. Until they go I'll keep running. I made it very clear I want to go back and play for Sheffield United. I started there from six or seven years old. If I'm dropping down and it's becoming a burden obviously not..."

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 26, 2021

With a number of factors at play, only time will tell whether Kyle Walker and Manchester City’s love affair continues beyond 2024.