SPURS STAR WALKER IS TARGET FOR BARCELONA

SPANISH CHAMPIONS ADMIRE KYLE AS THEY SCOUR CONTINENT FOR DANI ALVES’ REPLACEMENT

KYLE WALKER is on a list of players prepared by Barcelona to fill the right-back spot next season.

The Spanish champions have not properly replaced Dani Alves since allowing the Brazilian to join Juventus last summer, and are determined to do so before next season.

Barca have been studying the Continent for candidates and Standard Sport understands Walker, 26, is one of the players they admire.

He is arguably having the best season of his Tottenham career. His rampaging runs from defence are one of Spurs’ most potent attacking weapons, bringing him five assists in the Premier League this season — an excellent return for a full-back.

As highly as Barcelona regard Walker, however, they know that prising him from Tottenham would be an expensive task.

Having tied Walker to a new fiveyear contract, worth about £70,000 a week, last summer, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is in no mood to let a prize asset walk away.

Reports this season suggested Manchester United and Manchester City were ready to offer £60million to sign Walker and Tottenham team-mate Danny Rose, who plays at left-back. It seems far likelier that Levy would demand at least that amount for just one of them.

Walker is happy at Tottenham, where he has developed from a raw defender into an England regular and one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.

He believes his future lies at Tottenham but is also very ambitious — after Spurs’ abortive Champions League campaign this season, Walker is keen to play in the competition every season.

Tottenham are third in the Premier League, in a five-way fight for the three Champions League places behind

League leaders Chelsea.

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