AC Milan are reportedly keeping a sharp eye on Kyle Walker's situation at Manchester City.
Having cemented his position as Pep Guardiola's first-choice right-back for several years, the 32-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in the current campaign.
In recent weeks, Guardiola has favoured John Stones in an inverted role, a position which Walker "cannot play" in, according to the Catalan coach.
The England international has started and completed the full 90 of Man City's recent wins over Leicester City and Sheffield United, occupying a wing-back role against the former before taking up a central position against the Blades in the FA Cup.
However, Walker's start against Leicester was only his second from the Citizens' last six Premier League games, and he could be back on the bench for the visit of league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday.
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With the defender turning 33 next month and due to become a free agent in the summer of 2024, speculation surrounding his future at the Etihad Stadium is starting to heat up, especially with academy graduate Rico Lewis also enjoying a breakthrough year.
Aston Villa are thought to be considering a double swoop for Walker and Kalvin Phillips in the summer window, but Unai Emery's side will face incredibly stiff competition for the former.
According to The Sun, AC Milan are also attentive to Walker's situation, and there are currently no talks ongoing to extend the defender's contract with the Premier League champions.
As a result, the Rossoneri are ready to test Man City's resolve with a summer bid and are hopeful that Walker could be tempted to test himself in a different league.
The Citizens forked out £46.7m to poach Walker from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2017, and the right-back has come up with six goals and 18 assists in 242 matches for Guardiola's side since.
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Walker has just one assist to his name from 27 outings in the current campaign, starting just 15 Premier League games and one in the Champions League, although a groin injury has not helped his cause.
The Englishman has four Premier League titles to his name from his time at the Etihad, as well as four EFL Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shields during a trophy-laden six-year spell.
City could therefore face the prospect of losing two full-backs in one transfer window, as the future of Joao Cancelo - currently on loan at Bayern Munich - is shrouded in uncertainty as well.
The German champions are not expected to take up their £61m option to sign the Portugal defender permanently, but he would seemingly not receive a warm welcome back to Man City, whose fans booed him when Bayern visited the Etihad for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Man City can cut the gap to leaders Arsenal down to two points with two games in hand should they defeat Mikel Arteta's men in Wednesday's mouthwatering contest.
Ben Knapton
