Man City ace Kyle Walker shows his true intentions as three clubs are 'excluded from transfer race'

Kyle Walker has reportedly decided on the preferred location of his next club after telling Pep Guardiola he wants to leave Manchester City.

The Blues skipper has had a difficult season, with a series of errors leading to goals in City's torrid run into the new year. Now, with 18 months left on his contract and his 35th birthday fast approaching, Walker is looking to take on a new challenge in the latter stages of his career.

AC Milan are believed to be leading the charge in the race to sign Walker, while Bayern Munich hold a long-standing interest in the England international.

Saudi Pro League teams Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli have also been linked. But according to Sky Germany, Walker has decided he wants to stay in Europe, thus excluding these three clubs from the transfer race.

The right-back's decision hints at the real reason for his departure from City, and getting a salary at the end of his career is not one of them. Instead, he is keen to try a new setting, having spent his entire career in England and playing regular Premier League football since 2011.

Walker, who still captains City, has six Premier Leagues, six domestic cups and a Champions League title in addition to 300 first-team appearances for the reigning English champions.

Despite Walker's individual struggles this season, fellow City defender Nathan Ake is adamant he will be a big miss. “He’s a great player for us, a great character,” said the Dutchman. “He's also a good guy, I'm very good [friends] with him.

“Let's see what happens. There is no doubt that he has been an important player for us over the years. This year too he is an important character in the team. He deserves a lot of praise for all the years when he was one of the best players of this club”.

Guardiola also paid huge compliments to the veteran full-back when announcing his desire to leave following City's 8-0 defeat to Salford in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

“We cannot understand [what] “The club lived these years without Kyle,” explained the former Barcelona boss. “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.