Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has insisted that the door is still open for Kyle Walker to continue at the Etihad should he not receive any enticing offers from elsewhere.
The 34-year-old was omitted from the Citizens squad for their 8-0 FA Cup obliteration of Salford City at the weekend, and Guardiola made the striking announcement post-match that he had asked to leave.
Walker has operated at the top level in a City shirt for seven-and-a-half years, but he has experienced a notable physical and technical decline this season, and his performances have been heavily criticised.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man is now exploring his options for a move to a foreign league, having plied his trade in his homeland for the entirety of his career, and City are not expected to stand in his way if a suitable offer comes in.
As Walker's camp work on securing a desired exit for the right-back, it is unlikely that he will be considered for selection in order to avoid a possible injury that could scupper a winter transfer.
Guardiola: 'Walker is still unstoppable at right-back'
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As a result, Rico Lewis is expected to hold the fort at right-back for the time being, starting with Tuesday's Premier League clash away to Brentford, but Walker may not have played his final City match just yet.
Asked if he would call Walker up for selection after his transfer request, Guardiola said: "I don't know, It depends on how we are going to train. It depends on him," as quoted by The Mirror.
"The situation is different now, but the transfer window will finish when it finishes and I don't know what's going to happen. I said to Kyle now it's a question of the market. He is an incredible player, with incredible physicality and when he's focused he's unstoppable as a right-back.
"He's a top-class player. If he's fit he can play for one, two, three or four more years as a professional. I've never seen a player with these physical conditions in my career.
"If he wants to explore a move away, the club is going to explore, and he has to decide, not me. It's not my decision. But he has to have an agreement with the club."
Which clubs are in the running to sign Walker?
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Serie A powerhouses AC Milan are thought to already be working on a deal to bring Walker to San Siro, but the Rossoneri are supposedly also interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, which will pose a problem.
The Italian side only have room for one more non-EU player in their squad, meaning that they would have to drop their interest in one of Rashford or Walker unless they freed up one of their non-EU spots through a sale.
San Siro rivals Inter Milan could supposedly take advantage of the situation, according to The Sun, who report that the Nerazzurri are 'thrashing out' a deal to sign the England international.
However, clubs from the Saudi Pro League are also expected to throw their hat into the ring, and Walker could expect a much more handsome pay packet in the Middle East than Serie A.
A return to boyhood club Sheffield United was previously mooted, but a Bramall Lane homecoming will seemingly be put on hold while Walker searches for a move abroad.
Ben Knapton
