Manchester City's Kyle Walker replacement mission has reportedly suffered a setback, as rumoured target Daniel Munoz has put pen to paper on a new deal with Crystal Palace.
The Citizens were rumoured to have been keeping an eye on the Colombia international as a potential successor to Walker, whose time at the Etihad Stadium is seemingly reaching its natural conclusion.
The veteran right-back was loaned to Italian giants AC Milan in the January transfer window with a view to a permanent move in the summer, although he may now miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an elbow injury.
There are now growing doubts about whether Milan will sign Walker permanently at the end of the season following his injury blow, and the 34-year-old could therefore still return to the Etihad this summer.
However, he is only contracted to Pep Guardiola's side until 2026, and following a noticeable decline in performance levels at the start of the current season, there is seemingly no way back for him in Manchester.
Munoz 'signs new Palace deal' amid City speculation
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City will ostensibly not be replacing Walker with Munoz, though, as The Athletic claims that the 28-year-old has committed his future to Crystal Palace by signing a new deal with the London club.
Munoz's previous terms were due to run until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months, but the defender has now been recognised for his contributions with a renewal of an unspecified length.
The 28-year-old seamlessly adapted to life in the Premier League following his switch from Genk in the January 2024 transfer window, where he cost Palace just €8m (£7m) to poach from the Belgian side.
Munoz has since produced six goals and 10 assists from 52 matches in a Palace shirt, including six efforts and six helpers from 36 matches in the 2024-25 season from a right wing-back position.
Chelsea and Barcelona were also rumoured to have taken a liking to the South American, but both they and Man City will have to search for alternative right-back targets elsewhere.
What Munoz alternatives can Man City target?
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While Munoz is primarily playing as a wing-back in Palace colours, the 28-year-old is no stranger to operating as a pure right-back in a back four and would have been an ideal fit to step into Walker's shoes.
City are expected to suffer the same fate with Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina, another Premier League-proven defender tipped to join the champions, but another who is also expected to sign a new deal with his current club.
Instead, the Citizens could try again for versatile Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, whose agent has confirmed was the subject of interest from Guardiola in the January transfer window.
Newcastle United's Tino Livramento and Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong have also been mentioned as possible summer targets for Man City, who are currently soldiering on with Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis as their right-back choices.
City coincidentally face Palace in Saturday's early Premier League kickoff, and to add injury to insult, Guardiola has allegedly suffered a late fitness blow ahead of the visit of the Eagles.
Ben Knapton
