Pep Guardiola says Kyle Walker has asked to leave Manchester City

After crushing Salford 8-0 in the FA Cup, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed the reason why right-back Kyle Walker was not in the squad. He said Walker had asked to leave the club to pursue opportunities abroad. Guardiola confirmed that an offer had previously been received from Bayern Munich for Walker, but it did not match the club's valuation.

Walker is now 34 and his role at City has diminished with the emergence of Rico Lewis, but that doesn't mean he has nothing to offer other teams around the world. With City, Walker has won the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup four times, the English Super Cup twice and the Premier League six times. Winners like that don't grow on trees.

"Two days ago Kyle asked to look at the possibilities of playing abroad at the end of his career," said Guardiola. "He asked for the trip two days ago. Bayern Munich, I think, one team, but the offer was not good enough, but I asked him and the club asked him how important it is. We can't understand the success we've had all these years without Kyle, it's impossible.

"Knowing his attitude, for many reasons, he would already like to explore going to another country to play in the final years and for that reason I prefer to let other players play whose attitude is here. That's all."

Although Guardiola has stated that Walker is only probing and this does not mean he is leaving the club, this appears to be the beginning of the end. With City not even occupying a European spot at this point in the Premier League season, things certainly haven't gone to plan, but it also means that a bit of a shake-up can't hurt.

Walker is one of the longest serving players at the club and has been there for Guardiola's success, so a potential departure is a painful notion for fans, but he could energise the team in the final push. There is room for reinforcements in January and although the title may be out of reach, City have their sights set on securing a Champions League place. If they can turn their form around and do that while Walker has the pleasure of playing elsewhere, all parties could end this season satisfied.

Guardiola has always been someone who doesn't keep players at the club who don't want to be there, and this situation is no different.

"Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm still pretty convinced that in our jobs, in any job, there's nobody who doesn't want to be where they can't perform or be what they want to be," Guardiola said.

With the transfer window open in January, any potential move could develop quickly.