Kyle Walker is set for the Tottenham exit door after losing a power struggle with manager Mauricio Pochettino, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper claim that Walker has antagonised strict disciplinarian Pochettino with his conduct while speculation has swirled around his future in recent months.
The Telegraph report that the Argentine “does not stand for players who kick up a fuss about anything” and that the England right-back is most likely to end the summer transfer window at Manchester City.
However, Walker’s potential move to City is likely to come at a gargantuan price after the Mirror claimed that Spurs have upped their asking price for him from £40million to £60million.
The London club’s stance comes after it emerged that Liverpool were prepared to pay around £60million to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton this summer before that deal collapsed on Wednesday night.
Tottenham are said to believe they are fully justified in asking for more money for Walker before sanctioning his summer exit.
It could mean that City’s pursuit of the England international, 27, is now less likely even though manager Pep Guardiola has made him one of the club’s top summer targets.
The defender, who moved to White Hart Lane from boyhood club Sheffield United in 2009, lost his regular Spurs starting place at the end of 2016-17 as speculation intensified about his future and his form dipped.
Nevertheless, Walker was named by his peers in the PFA Premier League team of the season and is widely regarded as one of Europe’s outstanding right-backs.
He was also in the England team that drew 2-2 in their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Saturday evening, ahead of his White Hart Lane teammate Kieran Trippier.
City have already signed Monaco winger Bernardo Silva for £43million this summer and they are reportedly close to signing Benfica’s Ederson for a world-record £35million for a goalkeeper.