Manchester City Set To Address Right-Back Issue Following Kyle Walker Exit

Manchester City are being warned against repeating past transfer oversights as they continue to rebuild a squad in transition, with the departure of Kyle Walker creating renewed urgency over the right-back position.

Walker, who joined the club in 2017 and has been a key figure in City’s domestic and continental success, is set to join Burnley in a deal that could rise to £5 million. The 35-year-old spent the second half of the 2024–25 campaign on loan at AC Milan after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola.

Despite significant transfer investment since January — eight players for close to £300 million — City have yet to secure a specialist right-back to replace Walker. Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, and Abdukodir Khusanov were all deployed in the role at different times last season but remain unconvincing long-term solutions.

The defensive vulnerabilities that plagued City during their third-place Premier League finish and their Club World Cup exit to Al-Hilal (4–3 after extra time) have reignited scrutiny of the squad’s structural balance, particularly across the back line.

While Manchester City continue to monitor Newcastle’s Valentino Livramento, negotiations are believed to have stalled, prompting the need for alternative right-back targets.

 Key Developments:

• Kyle Walker set to join Burnley after a loan spell at AC Milan.
• City lack a natural right-back following Walker’s departure.
• £300M spent since January, but defence remains a concern.

 FAQ

• Why didn’t City replace Walker earlier?
  Guardiola relied on internal options like Lewis and Nunes to cover the role temporarily.
• Will City pursue Valentino Livramento?
  He remains an option, but the club is also evaluating other targets.
• Are other defenders at risk of being sold?
  Yes. John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji are all under review.

 Conclusion

Manchester City must act decisively to plug the right-back gap left by Walker’s departure. Failing to do so could jeopardize their ambitions for the 2025/26 season across all competitions.