Tottenham transfer news: Kyle Walker wants to leave after row with Mauricio Pochettino as United and City hover

Kyle Walker, left on the bench again yesterday, has decided that his future lies away from Tottenham Hotspur.

Barcelona have joined Manchester City and Manchester United in pursuit of the right-back and Walker, having fallen out with Mauricio Pochettino once again over fitness and selection, wants to leave.

Pochettino and Daniel Levy are in no rush to sell any of their players but if any of the Spurs first team are to be sold this summer then Walker is the likeliest. He would cost at the very least £35million, if not closer to £50m, money which would be invested back into the team and ensure Spurs do not need to sell their crown jewels Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Danny Rose.

The issue between Walker and Pochettino is long-running and boils down to Pochettino’s doubts about Walker’s fitness and his performances in training. He thinks that Walker struggles to play two big games in a week, a view that Walker seriously disputes. Walker did not play any of Spurs’ three Champions League away games, including the crucial 2-1 defeat at Monaco last November which knocked Spurs out of the competition.

Walker and Kieran Trippier had been alternating at right-back in April but the crunch came nine days ago at Wembley. Pochettino picked Trippier over Walker for the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, a decision that surprised Walker. He knew that he would be playing against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night but given the choice he would rather have played at Wembley. On Sunday for the north London derby against Arsenal, Trippier started and Walker stayed on the bench. It was the first time Walker has been on the bench for a league game against Arsenal under Pochettino.

These events have indicated to Walker that his time is up at Spurs and he should look for his next club. But there is also the matter of money. Tottenham’s rigid wage structure means that the contract Walker signed at the start of the season is for just under £70,000 per week. Walker is very conscious of the fact that he could earn twice as much money elsewhere, especially at City or United. There is no way that Spurs’ incremental wage increases could compete.

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Walker has another four seasons left on his contract after this one so he will not be cheap. But as an England international of peak age with seven seasons of consistent Premier League experience he is a very attractive prospect to Manchester City and Manchester United. City are desperate for new quick full-backs as well as English players and are thought to be the favourites.

Walker has not handed in a transfer request at Spurs yet but he is attracted by the possibility of a big move and frustrated by recent events. When Pochettino was asked last Tuesday about the summer, he admitted some players would be sold, but only if he chose they could go, as might well be the case with Walker this summer.

“The players that we want to keep, we will keep,” Pochettino said. “Because [Daniel Levy] said to me ‘we don’t need money’. If we sell some players it is because we want to sell some players. For our fans, it is so clear that all the decisions we take are for the reason to try to improve the team, try to be more competitive next season.”