London: Manchester City will make Kyle Walker, the world’s most expensive defender, after agreeing a deal with Tottenham Hotspur that could exceed 50 million pounds (Dh237.3 million).
Additionally, City want to follow up the capture of Walker with the signing of left-back Benjamin Mendy, who has been left out of the Monaco squad for their pre-season trip to Switzerland. As revealed by The Daily Telegraph last week, City have agreed to pay 50 million pounds for Walker, plus add-ons that could bring the final fee to 53 million pounds.
Sources have confirmed the figures, despite City claiming they are lower. David Luiz was the world’s previous most expensive defender, his move to Paris Saint-Germain from Chelsea worth 50 million pounds in 2014. Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, has ensured that City may eclipse that fee.
Walker had been scheduled to return to Tottenham for pre-season training on Thursday but will instead finalise his switch to City and undergo a medical before joining his new teammates for the tour of America. City and Tottenham had been locked in talks for weeks over Walker and Levy refused to drop his 50 million pounds valuation.
After missing out on right-back Dani Alves to PSG, City agreed to match Tottenham’s asking price instead of risk losing another of Pep Guardiola’s targets. Walker, 27, fell out of favour under Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino last season after having his head turned by City’s interest. He informed Pochettino that he wanted to leave towards the end of the campaign and it was decided that Spurs would allow him to go if their valuation was met.
Pochettino preferred Kieran Trippier for many of Tottenham’s biggest games in last season’s run-in and the 26-year-old signed a new five-year contract after playing his way into the England squad. In Trippier, Pochettino has a ready-made replacement for Walker, although Tottenham are on the lookout for a new right-back.
Talks have been held over a 22 million pounds move for Porto’s Ricardo Pereira, but progress has been slow due to a dispute over who represents the player, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Benjamin Henrichs has also been scouted.
Despite strong interest from Manchester United in Eric Dier, Tottenham are adamant that Walker will not be followed out of the door by any more key players. Spurs will listen to offers for Moussa Sissoko, Vincent Janssen and Kevin Wimmer, but maintain Dier is not for sale. The Argentine defender Juan Foyth is close to joining Tottenham from Estudiantes for 9 million pounds, while Pochettino remains interested in Ross Barkley and Josh King.
Everton are also looking at Bournemouth forward King, but are likely to have to drop their 50 million pounds asking price for Barkley. Having finally landed Walker, Guardiola will now turn his attention to adding a left-back to his squad and make a new bid for Mendy.
City have failed with one offer for Mendy, but are likely to return with a bid in excess of 40 million pounds. If they are unsuccessful in reaching an agreement, then City will try to persuade Southampton to sell Ryan Bertrand.
Bertrand is interested in a move to City, but would cost in excess of 30 million pounds after signing a five-year contract with the Saints last summer.
