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,

Mick Abel couldn't sustain his sublime major league debut and is headed to the minors. Taijuan Walker is back in Philadelphia's rotation. And anticipation that prized prospect Andrew Painter could be headed to the Phillies will stretch past the All-Star break.

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