Chris Wilder has already delivered his verdict on Kyle Walker's Sheffield United "dream"
Manager Chris Wilder has already said the door is always open for Kyle Walker to return to Sheffield United after the right-back admitted it is his “dream” to play for his boyhood club again before the end of his career.
The Burnley defender, 35, recently announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a very respectable England career that saw him earn 96 caps for his country.
Despite that, Walker, who will celebrate his 36th birthday in May, has no intentions to retire from club football just yet. He joined Burnley last July, signing a two-year contract to keep him at Turf Moor until June 2027.
Planning to continue playing for “another few years”, the former Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur man has once again addressed his desire to return to Bramall Lane and represent his boyhood club once again. Walker was sold to Tottenham in July 2009 but spent the duration of the 2009/10 season on loan in S2, meaning it is now 16 years since he last pulled on a United shirt.
Appearing on The Overlap podcast earlier this week, Walker said: "I'd like to keep playing for another few years. It's always been a dream to play for Sheffield United again.
“To start there at six-years-old and then leaving at 19 - I spent so many incredible years there. I hope to play for them again.
“I don't know when that will be. I don't know if they will want me."
If a juncture arrives where there is a distinct possibility of Walker completing a fairytale homecoming and Wilder is still in the dugout at Bramall Lane, you can almost guarantee the Blades boss will push to try and get a deal in place.
Wilder, in January last year, went on record declaring his admiration for Walker, admitting he would be welcome back in S2 at “anytime”.
"He's one I would take and I think the world of him,” said Wilder. “I'm sure we'll be able to find a role for him when he decides to leave Manchester.
"I tried to tap him up when we played City but he said he's got another couple of years playing there. He's a top player and he's already said he wants to finish what has been a brilliant career back at Sheffield United. Don't count against it.
"He's got my number and he knows he can phone me anytime. He's still a top performer in the best league in the world. He's welcome back here anytime."