Manchester City captain Kyle Walker appears destined for the exit door at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola confirmed after the FA Cup tie against Salford City that the defender had asked to explore the possibility of playing abroad in the final stages of his career and he has been left out of the last two squads. He is again set to miss out when City travel to Ipswich Town in the Premier League amid rumours of interest from AC Milan and Inter Milan in Italy.

Walker has been a mainstay during the most successful era of City's history having arrived in Guardiola's second campaign in charge. The 34-year-old has won six Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League since arriving at City in 2017.

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But he has struggled for form this season. Walker has been responsible for a number of goals conceded and has slipped down the pecking order with Rico Lewis often preferred at right back. Here our City writers discuss his impending transfer and legacy.

Joe Bray

There are two competing issues here. Walker's form between 2017 and the summer of 2024, and his form this season. One shouldn't erase the other - and in hindsight, the decision to give him a three year contract 18-months ago was perhaps generous. If he had penned a two year deal we'd be reaching a point where everyone accepts it's time to move on and everyone is happy enough.

Before the summer, Walker was undisputedly the best right-back in the world for club and country. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr were scared of him and he was confident enough to name his podcast about nobody getting past him.

He was a key part of City's success, transformed the defence on arrival, and captained them to becoming World Champions. He had always proved doubters wrong, from those criticising his transfer fee, to those suggesting he couldn't play under Pep Guardiola, and then those saying he was too old. Even last season, his pace looked after the whole right flank to allow Phil Foden to invert inside and become Player of the Year.

But this season, that pace has gone, perhaps due to the relentless schedule catching up with him (excuse the pun). Without the pace, Walker has had to re-learn his own game, and has suffered as a result. There's a saying about old dogs and new tricks that might apply here. If he can secure a move in January it is absolutely best for all parties.

A club captain deserting a struggling squad mid-season should be a major story - yet City's struggles have played out without him. If he can't (or doesn't want to) rediscover his form, then the Blues are stronger without him. The way it has ended might sour his legacy, but his previous accomplishments shouldn't be forgotten.

Maybe file him in the same category as Yaya Toure or Joe Hart - no fairytale farewell, a disappointing ending, but brilliant players and fine servants that will be remembered better over time.

Tyrone Marshall

It's hard to discuss a player's legacy when their time at a club ends abruptly as Walker's is doing. He has had a difficult season, been criticised by supporters, looked way short of his best and has now dropped the bombshell that he wants out midway through the season, when City were already short of bodies and in need of leaders. It's not a great look.

In hindsight, maybe it would have been better for all parties if he had gone in the summer of 2023, when he flirted with Bayern Munich but ended up staying. He did get to lift that Premier League title last season, but his game has fallen off a cliff this term.

Time is a healer though and the reality is Walker has been incredibly successful at City. He's not in the bracket of some of those club legends that have had statues builds and pitches named after them at the training ground, and his off-pitch misdemanours may partly account for the reason why.

He was still an outstanding player, the best right-back in the world on his day, and a committed leader who played a big part in getting the squad back on track in 2023/24, when they claimed that fourth successive crown. As captain, that season might well be his biggest legacy.