The former Southampton man is set to move abroad for the first time in his career.
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West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are set to be beaten to the signing of free agent Kyle Walker-Peters by Turkish outfit Besiktas with a medical booked for the 28-year-old.
The full-back left relegated Southampton as a free agent this summer, bringing an end to a five year stay on the south coast. A product of the Spurs academy, the former Tottenham Hotspur man had been tipped to make a return to the Premier League straight away.
Walker-Peters, who has two England caps to his name, was one of few standouts for Southampton over an underwhelming top flight campaign last term. The defender made 33 appearances for the Saints, being deployed on either flank thanks to his versatility.
Kyle Walker-Peters leaves Southampton as free agent
On leaving the club in June, Walker-Peters issued a classy goodbye to Southampton. Taking to social media, he wrote: "Dear Saints, after five unforgettable years, the time has come for me to say goodbye. Since I joined Southampton in 2020, I couldn’t have imagined how much this club would come to mean to me.
"From day one you’ve shown me nothing but love and support. I’ve grown here, not just as a footballer but as a person. I’ve experienced moments that will stay with me for life. Wearing the red and white has truly been an honour I’ll always cherish.
"To my teammates and everyone at the club, thank you for the memories, the laughs and the journey. To the fans, your passion, loyalty and constant support through the highs and lows has been amazing. It’s been a privilege to represent you. This club has shaped me, and I’ll forever be proud to have been a Saint. Thank you for everything. With love, KWP."
West Ham and Spurs to miss out on transfer target
GiveMeSport was one of several outlets to name Spurs and West Ham as potential suitors for Walker-Peters. The Hammers are in the market for a full-back this summer with Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell both leaving as free agents themselves. Leeds United and Sunderland had also been linked.
Walker-Peters would have been a shrewd investment on a free transfer with his experience including 148 Premier League outings and experience in the Champions League. However, the player is now set to work under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Besiktas. Turkiye Gazetesi report that Walker-Peters is in Istanbul this weekend to finalise his move to the club.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano had also given an update on the move on Friday morning, prior to that report. He wrote: “Besiktas are in talks with Kyle Walker-Peters to join the club as free agent. Discussions ongoing with the fullback who’s available after he left Southampton. Besiktas are confident to get the deal done soon.”
In other news, Everton and West Ham look to hijack Crystal Palace £27m double transfer plan.