AC Milan official Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed the club are working on a deal to sign Kyle Walker from reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

Walker has informed City manager Pep Guardiola of his desire to leave the club this month and has already given his approval to joining Milan, who sent their first official bid to the Premier League champions earlier this week.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed the clubs are discussing what would be an initial loan deal for Walker, with Milan negotiating the option to make the move permanent in the summer.

Ibrahimovic, who enjoyed a legendary playing career at the highest level and now works as a senior advisor to former club Milan, confirmed the Rossoneri’s interest in getting a deal over the line.

“Everyone knows that Walker is a great player, he did great things at City,” the Swede told DAZN. “When there is someone like him on the market there is a lot of interest.

“It doesn’t go against our vision because he is strong, he is a leader, he has dominance in the dressing room. Now we are checking if it is possible.”

A final round of talks between Milan and City is expected to be held in the coming hours, with Walker’s move to the fashion capital of the world likely to be made official next week.

Walker’s departure will leave a gaping hole in a City defence that has decimated by injuries this season. Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake have all spent various periods of time on the sidelines, and their respective absences have seen City’s Premier League title defence fall apart.

Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov is seemingly on his way to the Etihad Stadium to help fill the void – in a move costing City £33.6m – and a deal for Palmeiras’ Vitor Reis, worth just shy of £30m, is also close to completion.