Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur still 'sparring' over Kyle Walker fee

Spurs are in no rush to complete negotiations as the right-back still has four years remaining on his contract

Manchester City’s pursuit of Kyle Walker is set to drag on for another week.

City and Tottenham Hotspur have been talking since the end of last season about a summer transfer for the England international right-back. Pep Guardiola had hoped to get Walker signed early, as City did with goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Bernardo Silva, as part of a revamp of City’s ageing defence.

But City and Tottenham have not been able to agree a fee for Walker, with Spurs demanding close to £50million for the player. One source close to the negotiations told The Independent last night that the two sides are still “sparring” over the fee and that no agreement is expected any time soon.

Tottenham have always been prepared to let these negotiations drag on for as long as possible. Walker still has four years left on the contract he signed at the start of last season meaning there is little risk of him diminishing in value. As Spurs do not need to sell, Daniel Levy is happy to wait and wait until City meet his asking price.

City would like to have signed Walker by the time the two teams meet in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday 29 July. But Spurs fly out to the United States on 19 July and there will need to be surprising progress from both sides for Walker to have joined by then.

Walker has been keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium since he fell out with Mauricio Pochettino in the second half of last season. Pochettino has reservations about Walker’s training and fitness and would not play him in two big games in a row.

Walker missed out on crucial Champions League and FA Cup games, including the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the last ever north London derby at White Hart Lane. By the end of the season Kieran Trippier was first choice, and he has been given a new five-year contract at Tottenham.