Man City ‘identify long-term successor’ to Kyle Walker who used to play in their academy

Manchester City are reportedly planning for the future by identifying a long-term successor to Kyle Walker, a player who emerged from their academy.

Throughout his career with Tottenham and City, Walker has been widely regarded as one of the top right-backs in the Premier League over the past 15 years. His exceptional speed and physical strength have been standout attributes, complemented by significant improvements in his defensive capabilities over time.

Since joining Manchester City in 2017 as one of Pep Guardiola’s initial marquee acquisitions, Kyle Walker has been a key figure in the team’s success. He has amassed an impressive tally of 15 trophies with the club, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph.

Kyle Walker extended his stay at the Etihad Stadium last summer by signing a two-year contract extension, which will keep him at Manchester City until 2026. However, given that he will be 36 years old when the contract expires, City may begin to explore potential replacements in the coming years.

According to The Sun, Pep Guardiola has identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong as the long-term replacement for Kyle Walker at Manchester City.

Frimpong, a Netherlands international, has primarily operated as a wing-back under Xabi Alonso this season, contributing eight goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga. Although questions have been raised about his defensive capabilities, particularly by Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman, Guardiola has a track record of developing players in this aspect of the game.

Furthermore, Guardiola is familiar with Frimpong, as the full-back spent nine years in Manchester City’s academy from 2010 to 2019..

Despite spending nine years in Manchester City’s academy, Jeremie Frimpong opted to leave the club and signed a four-year contract with Celtic before joining Bayer Leverkusen in January 2021.

The Sun reports that although Frimpong is viewed as the long-term successor to Kyle Walker, his reported £35 million release clause could prompt City to pursue the deal earlier than anticipated. Additionally, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old, adding to the potential competition for his signature.

If Frimpong returns to Manchester City, the club would boast a formidable array of right-back options, including fellow academy graduate Rico Lewis.