Annie Kilner has reportedly hired a lawyer who helped Coleen Rooney during her Wagatha Christie High Court battle with Rebekah Vardy.
The WAG, 30, is said to have enlisted the services of litigator and sport lawyer Paul Lunt amid her split from husband Kyle Walker.
The footballer, 33, fathered two children with Lauryn Goodman, 32, during his marriage to Annie, with Lauryn’s youngest being just five months old.
According to The Sun, Annie has vowed to friends that she is now seeking a divorce with a fight looming over his £30million fortune.
Annie’s family are also said to be eager for her to make her separation from Kyle permanent after she confirmed on Instagram they are spending time apart.
The publication also reports that Annie has had a series of ‘heart to hearts’ with Coleen in the wake of the split.
Despite separating, Kyle and Annie are now both being representated by PR guru Rachel Monk, who helped guide Coleen through her High Court trial.
MailOnline has contacted Annie’s representative for comment.
The Manchester City defender was rumoured to be the biological dad of Lauryn’s child since she gave birth in August, which she claimed to have welcomed with ‘another footballer’.
Since Annie announced the couple’s separation on Sunday, Lauryn has continued to drop not-so-subtle hints regarding her daughter’s paternity.
MailOnline revealed Kyle is the father and this is the second child he has fathered with Lauryn while still married to Annie, as she also shares three-year-old son Kairo, with the footballer after they embarked on a brief romance during his temporary split from Annie in 2019.
Sources close to the couple say Annie has known for some time the baby is Kyle’s and it did not spark her decision to take a break from the marriage.
A friend said: ‘Kyle and Annie have been on the rocks for some time.
‘There are lots of historic issues between them, as well as his dalliances with Lauryn, that has led to the break up.
‘They are both putting on a united front for the sake of the three children they share together, who are their main concern.
‘The marriage isn’t 100 per cent over, it could be rescued, but there needs to be lots of healing first.
‘They need to take a break from the relationship to restock and reevaluate.’
The friend added: ‘Kyle is no longer in contact with Lauryn.
‘Her stirring behind the scenes have really affected Annie and had a detrimental impact on her health.’
Kyle is believed to have moved out of the couple’s £2.4million mansion in wake of the separation.
Kyle has listed Rachel’s email on his Instagram account for ‘all non-football media enquiries’.
Despite their joint representation, a source insisted: ‘They are very much apart at the moment. There is no softening the blow of what has gone on.’
Meanwhile, leading legal minds have told MailOnline that Annie could be entitled to half her husband’s fortune.
Lauryn hinted in her Instagram her second child could be Kyle’s after updating her bio to reveal that her daughter’s surname begins with W, just as Kyle’s does, writing: ‘Mummy to @kairowalker & KW’.
Lauryn has also been liking a series of comments asking if Manchester City player Kyle is the father to her second child.
One read: ‘I’m actually shook! As Kyle Walker must be the dad with all these clues!! But is he having a relationship with 2 women?! Jeez all the poor kids involved.’
Another comment: ‘You do realise people can be made to keep quiet, both babies surnames are Walker. Stop being thick’, was also liked by Lauryn.
Kyle and Annie share three children – Riaan, Roman and Reign.
The childhood sweethearts married two years ago but have been in a relationship for 13 years.
Announcing their separation on Sunday, Annie said in an Instragam post: ‘Sadly, after many years of marriage and three wonderful children together, I have decided to take some time away from Kyle.
‘I do not wish to comment on the position any further. For now, I ask that the privacy of myself and my three young children be respected during this difficult time.’
Kyle and Annie’s relationship was marred with allegations surrounding the England star’s infidelity, but his partner would always take him back.
There were claims he held a sex party in lockdown with escorts and shared texts with a Playboy model while away on international duty.
There was also a vehement Facebook denial eight years ago that he was in any way linked to an explicit and sickening video involving a woman.
After Kyle was caught on CCTV in a bar apparently flashing friends and fondling a mystery blonde woman’s breasts last year, his wife famously posted on social media: ‘No matter how good you are to people, it won’t make them good to you.’
But it appears it was his on-off relationship with Lauryn Goodman that was the trigger for the split, after an alleged promise to Annie that he was no longer in contact with her was broken and he was kicked out of the family’s £2.4million Cheshire mansion five months ago. MailOnline revealed on Thursday he is now in a Manchester penthouse.
Kyle’s off pitch scandals have not seemed to affect his life on the pitch.
He won the Treble with Manchester City last season and was named club captain by manager Pep Guardiola following the departure of previous skipper Ilkay Gundogan.
He also remains a key player in Gareth Southgate’s England side, where he has amassed 81 caps, scoring his first Three Lions goal against Ukraine in September.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.