Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has allegedly been offered a second new contract by the Premier League and Champions League holders.
The England international's current terms are only valid until the end of the campaign, and he has been persistently linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Having struggled for weekly starts under Pep Guardiola last season, Walker apparently made it his goal to join Bayern this summer and rejected City's first offer of a new contract.
Walker is thought to be happy to accept a salary decrease in order to move to the Allianz Arena, but according to The Athletic, Man City have not yet given up hope of retaining his services.
The report adds that the Citizens have now presented Walker with a second renewal offer in the hope of convincing him to snub interest from Bayern, who had been told by the right-back that he was open to a switch.
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Walker also informed Guardiola of his wishes to complete a move to Germany, although Bayern were unable to reach a breakthrough in talks with City, who have now upped their contract offer.
The slow-moving process has apparently irked Bayern, who are now growing more concerned that Walker may choose to remain at the Etihad, as Guardiola has affirmed that he is determined to keep the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man on the books.
Walker's future beyond the summer of 2024 remains clouded in uncertainty, though, and he has also been linked with a return to Sheffield United, whom he represented for 13 years between 2007 and 2010.
Man City paid £45.6m to prise Walker away from Spurs in 2017, and the 33-year-old has come up with six goals and 18 assists in 254 appearances for Guardiola's side since.
Walker has played a crucial part in five Premier League triumphs for the Citizens, as well as winning four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields and the 2022-23 Champions League.
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The England international set up just one goal in 39 matches during the 2022-23 campaign, though, and he only came on as a late substitute in the Champions League final.
Nevertheless, Walker has been named in the first XI for Sunday's Community Shield clash with Arsenal, starting alongside Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and John Stones at the back.
However, competition for minutes in Guardiola's backline will soon intensify following the arrival of £77.9m man Josko Gvardiol, whose signing was confirmed on Saturday.
The capture of Gvardiol could push Aymeric Laporte out of the Etihad exit door, but Man City will not try to force Walker out of the club alongside the Spain international.
Ben Knapton
