AC Milan are closing in on Kyle Walker and will look to finalise a move for the England full-back early this week on a two-and-a-half year deal.

Pep Guardiola revealed the stunning news that Walker had asked to leave the club when he spoke after the win over Salford City in the FA Cup, for which the City captain was left out of the match-day squad.

It is understood that former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now an advisor at Milan, has played an important role in putting together a deal for Walker, 34, with the Italian club set to offer a contract until 2027.

He is poised to compete for a first-team spot at the San Siro, with the expectation of him pushing for a regular place. While he was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia earlier in the season, it is thought that Milan are the only club pushing for a deal at the moment.

Walker has a full season left on his existing terms at the Etihad Stadium so a transfer fee would be expected to be involved in normal circumstances, despite Walker’s age and the goodwill built up through his contribution to City’s success in the seven years since joining from Tottenham Hotspur.

He has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during the treble campaign, with Guardiola insisting “it is impossible” for City to have their success without Walker, who cost £45 million in 2017.

Walker was at the stadium to watch the win over Salford, for which Matheus Nunes filled in at right-back. But it is understood he did not train on Sunday, meaning there is just one day of preparation before the Premier League fixture at Brentford on Tuesday.

Guardiola insisted he would not stand in the way of Walker’s exit when he revealed the England full-back had asked to leave. He revealed the City skipper went to see director of football Txiki Begiristain on Thursday to ask to leave.

“Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad,” said Guardiola. “We cannot understand [what] the club did these years without Kyle. It’s impossible. He’s been our right-back, giving us something we didn’t have. But now in his mind, for many reasons, he would like to explore if he can go to another country to play his last years.”