Manchester City reportedly have their eye on Chelsea defender Reece James as a possible successor to Kyle Walker.
Walker's future at the Etihad Stadium was clouded in uncertainty earlier this year, as Pep Guardiola deployed John Stones in an inverted right-back role to magnificent effect.
Back in April, Citizens coach bluntly stated that Walker - who thrives using his pace on the overlap rather than coming infield - could not play in his new system, hinting at an imminent exit for the England international.
Walker was previously due to become a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season, and the 33-year-old was strongly linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich, where he could have reunited with former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Harry Kane.
However, a switch to the Allianz Arena did not materialise for the right-back, who instead penned a new deal with the treble winners until the summer of 2026, and he has played a pivotal role for Guardiola in the early stages of the 2023-24 season.
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Featuring as a right-back, right wing-back and centre-back, Walker has already made 17 starts in all competitions this term, completing the full 90 in each of his side's 12 Premier League games and registering one assist against Nottingham Forest.
With current captain Kevin De Bruyne sidelined owing to a hamstring problem, Walker has worn the armband on 16 occasions so far this season, including in his side's UEFA Super Cup triumph over Sevilla.
While the England international still has another three years left to run on his new deal, he will be 36 by the time those terms expire, and Man City are already believed to be looking for potential replacements.
According to The Independent - via the Manchester Evening News - Chelsea's James is a prime candidate to take the right-back reins from Walker, and Guardiola is a big admirer of his qualities.
Another player whose strengths lie in the wide positions where there is space to exploit, James's fledgling career has been hampered by numerous injuries, but that did not stop Mauricio Pochettino from making him club captain this summer.
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The 23-year-old has represented the West London giants since joining their academy in 2006 and has turned out the senior side in 152 occasions, scoring 11 goals and registering 20 assists in the process.
James has been limited to six outings in the 2023-24 season so far owing to a hamstring injury, but he has made a full recovery and started a Premier League game for just the third time this season in Sunday's 4-4 draw with Man City.
In that eight-goal spectacular, James registered his first goal contribution of the new season - setting up a Raheem Sterling strike - but he was taken off just after the hour mark and is yet to complete the full 90 in any game this season.
Chelsea only tied James down to a new contract last September, and the boyhood Blues defender is not due to become a free agent until 2028, but that is unlikely to deter Man City.
However, the Champions League holders might have to go head-to-head with Real Madrid to sign James, whom Los Blancos apparently view as a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal.
Ben Knapton
