Troy Deeney makes Kyle Walker to Everton claim: ‘Not the only one’
Kyle Walker is set to make a shock switch to Everton and former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has spoken out on the defender ahead of the move.
Walker was loaned to AC Milan in the January transfer window and has been left out of Man City’s Club World Cup squad this summer as he continues to be frozen out of Pep Guardiola’s plans.
The 35-year-old has one year left on his City deal, but he is not expected to play for the club again with another loan deal or a permanent transfer expected this summer.
Premier League rivals Everton are moving to secure the defender ahead of their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (The Sun).
Deeney backs Walker to return to form at Everton
Speaking live on talkSPORT (17 June) Deeney claimed Walker was ‘not the only one’ to put in a poor performance in England’s recent friendly defeat to Senegal.
The Three Lions lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground just days after narrowly avoiding embarrassment with a 1-0 win over Andorra in Spain.
Walker was criticised for his poor performance against the African nation, but Deeney defended the former Spurs player saying, “there were lots of poor performances.”
Deeney added: “You’re talking about a very good Senegal team, I think people were very disrespectful about that Senegal team about how good and how powerful they are.”
The pundit believes Walker’s experience would be a good fit for David Moyes’ side: “I think it works for both with where both are at.
“I don’t think he goes in and plays week in week out, but when you look at Everton’s current squad at right back, Seamus Coleman or Ashley Young, he is better than both of those guys.”
| Premier League appearances | 410 |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 36 |
| Clean Sheets | 130 |
Walker fighting for World Cup place
Football Insider verdict
With 10 players out of contract and four loanees returning to their parent clubs, Moyes is in need of reinforcements around the pitch.
It is therefore set to be a busy summer of transfer activity ahead of an exciting new period for the club at their new stadium.
Signing a player of Walker’s experience, who is a Champions League winner and has six Premier League titles to his name, could be a smart piece of business from Moyes.
There is no doubt the City legend has struggled for form recently, but Walker was indeed not the only player to suffer against Senegal.
That was a painful defeat for England and Walker’s place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad now looks under threat.
Tuchel will be monitoring his form closely and if he can get back to his high performance levels shown in Manchester it would be great news for Everton and England.