Kyle Walker has told Saudi Pro League bosses he wants to stay in Europe, talkSPORT understands.
It is believed that the Manchester City right-back has turned down a reported £400,000-a-week offer to play in the Middle East.
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In bombshell news over the weekend, Pep Guardiola revealed that Walker had asked to leave the Etihad this month, with AC Milan his preferred destination.
Talks between City and the Italian giants are expected to ramp up this week.
AC Milan are offering the England international a two-and-a-half year-deal.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Guardiola declared that the 34-year-old club is looking to finish his career abroad.
He said after the 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City: “Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career. He asked two years ago after the Treble.
“Bayern Munich wanted him, but the offer was not good enough” he said.
“I asked him, the club asked him, how important is this? We cannot understand the success the club had these years without Kyle.
“It’s impossible. He gave us something we didn’t have and he’s been amazing.
“But now in his mind he would like to explore to go to another country. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose mind is here, that’s all.”
Ahead of their Premier League tie with Brentford on Tuesday evening in London, Guardiola added that there was ‘no news’ on the defender.
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Asked whether he will be in City’s squad to travel to west London, Guardiola remarked: “I will decide after training.
“I said what I said, I will not be going into anything else. I don’t have any news so it’s Brentford in my mind.
The Spaniard also added that whilst the ‘mood is better’ and his side ‘have improved’, there is still much to do.
He said: “We have to wait to see, of course the mood is better and tomorrow we have an enormously difficult game. Thomas [Frank] creates a lot of problems.”
While Walker seems set to be on his way out of the club, two new additions look poised to arrive in the form of defender Abdukodir Khusanov and forward Omar Marmoush.
talkSPORT understands that a £33million move has been agreed with Ligue 1 outfit Lens for centre-back Khusanov.
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But Guardiola remained tight-lipped on the transfer when pushed for comment, as he simply stated: “The club didn’t announce anything.”
Meanwhile City are also closing in on the £60m signing of Eintracht Franlfurt star Marmoush.
The 25-year-old has chipped in with 14 Bundesliga goals and seven assists from 16 German top-flight matches this term.
Only Harry Kane has scored more league goals [15] than the Egypt international this season.
