After adding another promotion to his CV, Burnley boss Scott Parker has commenced his summer spending spree, looking to add reinforcements to his side this window ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The most recent, and most notable addition, however, came in the form of Manchester City right back Kyle Walker, who joins the Clarets on a two-year deal.
The Kyle Walker Acquisition
This deal came as a surprise to many as Burnley were not heavily linked with the English full-back.
However, they were able to secure his signature amidst persuasion from Walker’s ex-Tottenham teammate and Burnley manager Scott Parker.
The deal may amount to a total fee of £5 million if the England international plays a part in 70% of the games and Burnley stay in the Premier League.
Walker’s Positives
Kyle Walker brings a wealth of experience to Turf Moor, having spent eight years with Manchester City, winning a total of 17 trophies.
He most recently spent the second half of last season on loan with Italian side AC Milan, featuring 11 times in the league as AC Milan concluded the season 8th in the Serie A.
The level of experience that Walker has with top sides should be beneficial for Burnley if he can share his knowledge with his teammates.
Furthermore, at the age of 36, the wages the full-back will be on will be reduced, making this a more financially viable deal for Burnley.
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Walker’s Negatives
Whilst many will believe that this is a top addition for Burnley, Walker has flaws that may be exposed within this team.
Recently, it has become evident that he has lost a yard of pace and his positional awareness defensively has left teams exposed.
This was evident in the England vs Senegal friendly, whereby England lost for the first time against an African team, with Walker taking some of the blame for the goals conceded by his side.
Furthermore, out of 11 appearances for AC Milan, Walker only kept one clean sheet, a stat which is not at the level of defensive stability that AC Milan will pride themselves on.
In addition to this, Walker is a full-back who has been known in the past to utilise his pace and play on the front foot against any opposition.
The Englishman may have to adjust this play style with the Clarets, however, as manager Scott Parker often opts for a more rigid defensive system, therefore potentially asking a lot from Walker in relation to the defensive side of his game.
Conclusion
Whilst the signing of Kyle Walker is certainly a notable addition for Scott Parker, the player may not live up to the level that many expect.
With all the excitement around the signing, many will be forgetting the recent flaws that have crept into the players’ games, particularly defensively.
Burnley were a side that took pride in clean sheets in the most recent Championship season. Therefore the addition of Walker is most certainly an interesting one.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Insidefoto
Recording Date: 14.05.2025