Kyle Walker replacement: Pep Guardiola recognises the star as the ideal successor to the Manchester City defender

Pep Guardiola believes that Kyle Walker is the best candidate to replace the Manchester City defender.Manchester City is apparently keeping an eye on former player and current Bayer Leverkusen prodigy Jeremie Frimpong as a possible Kyle Walker replacement.

The Citizens are currently five points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, in second place. Across all competitions, Liverpool has lost their last four games. The manager, Pep Guardiola, had never lost four straight games before.

But lately, his squad has seemed defensively weak, especially when counterattacking. Walker, a defender, has come under fire this season because of his difficulties facing direct forwards in matches against Fulham and Bournemouth.

According to Football Insider, City believes that 23-year-old Frimpong would be a perfect alternative for the 34-year-old Englishman. As a result, it wouldn’t be shocking if Guardiola called for more players in January.

Walker’s perfect substitute? Even though Walker has won multiple championships during his time in Manchester and established himself as a staple for the England national team under Gareth Southgate, his offensive prowess has long been questioned.

Commentators like Gary Neville have praised the Englishman as a defensive-minded substitute for full-backs like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.

However, it is safe to assume that he is not nearly as comfortable with the ball as the two previously mentioned, and Manchester City may be able to take advantage of Frimpong’s significant offensive production.

The former Citizen scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in Leverkusen’s final third last season.

Considering that during his career, Walker has only contributed 22 assists and six goals to City, these numbers are even more astounding. It could be wise to ensure that Erling Haaland has a steady supply line given the waning impact of stars like Kevin De Bruyne.

Defense-related worries? Walker has often used his remarkable speed and physical strength to help him recover from attackers, keeping them away from dangerous locations and stopping them from moving forward on target.

It has been difficult for the veteran right-back to sustain his defensive skill this season. He plays for a defence that has given up 10 goals in their last four Premier League games and 13 goals in 11 games.

It’s unclear if Frimpong’s ability to play without the ball will improve this version of Walker, despite the fact that he would give City a fresh attacking dynamic during offensive phases.

During his tenure at Leverkusen, Frimpong has primarily played as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation. The latitude to overwhelm opposition defences and barge into the penalty area is often given to him.

In just ten games this season, the Bundesliga champions have already given up 16 league goals, which is just eight fewer than they allowed for the 2023–24 campaign.

The Dutchman might need some time to get used to the demands of playing in a back four under Guardiola if a transfer takes place. But there is no denying his extraordinary talent.