AC Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic has argued that signing Manchester City defender Kyle Walker would not go against the club's vision despite his age.
Walker had been previously linked with moves to teams such as Bayern Munich in 2023, but it appears that the Englishman's time at the club will be coming to an end after Pep Guardiola announced the defender had asked to leave earlier in January.
AC Milan have been credited with an interest in the 34-year-old, but reports suggested that the Italian outfit also held an interest in Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Speaking to DAZN, Ibrahimovic talked about the possibility of signing Walker, saying: "Everyone knows that Walker is a great player, he has done great things at City. When there is someone like him on the market there is a lot of interest. He doesn't go against our vision, because he's strong, he's a leader, he has dominance in the locker room. Now we are checking if it is possible."
AC Milan would not be able to sign both Walker and Rashford as Serie A rules mean that clubs can only sign two non-EU players every season, and Milan have already filled their quota for 2024/25.
© Imago
Walker or Rashford: Who does the move suit better?
When Walker is at his best, there are few full-backs that can claim to be better recovery defenders, with his immense pace proving to be a valuable asset to City for several years.
Milan left-back Theo Hernandez is renowned for his ability to attack at speed and combine with forward players in the final third, so perhaps Walker would be a good addition if he was brought in as a counter-weight to the left-back's attack-minded style of play.
However, the 34-year-old right-back has not been at his best level for some time, and his age means that he is unlikely to remain at the top level of European football for too much longer.
Rashford is only 27 and has proven in previous seasons his ability as a goalscorer, netting 17 goals in the Premier League in 2022-23.
It should be noted that the United forward would have to compete with winger Rafael Leao for a starting spot in his favoured left-wing position, and his salary is likely to be prohibitively expensive given his reported weekly wage is in excess of £300k per week.
© Imago
Who needs a January transfer more?
Walker has achieved everything there is to achieve in England, winning multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups and the Champions League in 2022-23.
His departure is said to be motivated by a desire to escape the spotlight in the English media, and to experience football abroad while he still can.
If he was to leave Manchester City, he would leave with his legacy secured as one of the most decorated right-back's in the history of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Rashford's reputation amongst Red Devils fans has somewhat deteriorated, with the winger struggling for consistency throughout his career.
Rashford's next move could be pivotal in revitalising his image as a footballer, while Walker's potential transfer to Milan may help fans appreciate his time in England even more.
Lewis Nolan
