Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has yet to finalise his long-rumoured move to Bayern Munich, but he already has enemies in the Allianz Stadium dressing room.
Thomas Tuchel is determined to capitalise on his long-term admiration for the 33-year-old, having instructed the Bavarians’ recruitment team to bring the Englishman to Munich.
Walker has found the German side’s proposal attractive and is enthusiastic about joining the perennial Bundesliga champions after his relationship with Man City went cold.
According to yesterday’s report, the former Tottenham Hotspur defender has informed Pep Guardiola of his desire to depart his homeland towards the final stretch of his illustrious playing career.
However, Walker may touch down in a rather hostile environment in Munich as his heavily anticipated transfer has stirred controversy among senior first-team figures at Bayern.
German publication Bild reports Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer are the most vocal adversaries of the club’s decision to stray away from a long-standing policy to lure the Man City star away from the Premier League.
Bayern have reportedly offered Walker a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further season, contrasting their well-adopted rule of giving older players 12-month deals.
At 33 and 37, respectively, Muller and Neuer were trapped in long-running extension talks with the club before being handed short-term deals.
The club’s decision to give Walker the privilege of a long-term contract is unfathomable for Muller and Neuer, especially considering they couldn’t get similar agreements despite their immense significance over the years.
Both players have been fundamental to Bayern’s 11-year reign of dominance in the Bundesliga and impressive Champions League achievements in the past decade.
Faced with imminent dressing-room unrest spearheaded by the two most iconic squad members, the Bavarians have a huge choice to make to preserve peace within the club.
As things stand, Walker’s arrival on favourable terms for the player could do more harm than good to Bayern unless they settle down their long-serving stalwarts’ strained nerves.
