Kyle Walker transfer could change Pep Guardiola's plan for Rico Lewis at Man City

As Manchester City players received their Premier League medals and waited for Ilkay Gundogan to lift the trophy, Pep Guardiola put his arms around Rico Lewis in the middle of the Etihad like a proud dad would.

We don't know what was said, if anything, but the message was: 'Enjoy this'. Lewis had come from only a handful of under-21 appearances last year, practically bypassing the Elite Development Squad, and did enough to impress Guardiola in pre-season that he had a place in the team.

Lewis took his opportunity and ran with it, Guardiola crediting him with transforming City's season by playing so well that Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and John Stones all had to up their games significantly.

Two of those players rose to the challenge, the other was shipped out, and City lost once in their last 28 games - a dead rubber against Brentford. Now another of that senior trio may be leaving: Walker.

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Lewis understandably didn't play many of the crucial games during the run-in, or the FA Cup and Champions League finals. He had played enough of a role to know he has fully earned those medals, though.

In Istanbul, as Lewis allowed other senior players to get their hands on the Champions League trophy, he looked like a kid whose dreams had all come true when it was his turn. He would look behind him, and Guardiola was there again, offering a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and that same beaming smile.

Guardiola has a history of developing young talents, just look at Phil Foden, and he knows when the right time is to throw them in. He will have a plan set out for Lewis - but reports this week that Walker is in talks with Bayern