Burnley are closing in on the permanent signing of right-back Kyle Walker from Manchester City. The England international, 35, is taking medical checks before completing what the newly-promoted Premier League club will regard as a significant coup.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is close to joining Burnley after passing a medical at the Premier League newcomers.

It would end Walker’s eight-year association with City, though he has not played for them since January after first asking to be omitted from the squad to explore the possibility of a move and then joining AC Milan on loan.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson called Mick Abel into his office Friday morning and let him know he was being optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley. “I think he understood,” Thomson said. “And I think he’s going to go down there,

Walker will start Tuesday at San Francisco. He could pitch four innings or so. Then, during the All-Star break, the Phillies will reassess.