With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave Manchester City and Ilkay Gundogan likely following suit, Pep Guardiola’s focus has turned to AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders as the club’s priority midfield target.
Rising Dutch Star
The 25-year-old Dutch international has emerged as one of Serie A’s standout midfielders despite AC Milan’s struggle to an eighth-place finish this season. After transferring from AZ Alkmaar for €20.5m in 2023, Reijnders has flourished in Italy, particularly this term where he’s tallied an impressive 15 goals – more than any other central midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues.
Reijnders’ versatility allows him to excel both as a box-to-box midfielder or in a more controlled double pivot role. His current market value stands at €50m according to Transfermarkt, reflecting a €20m increase over the past year.
Expert Assessment
Serie A specialist Aniello Luciano describes Reijnders as “the glue between midfield and attack” who thrives when given tactical freedom. “He has excellent vision but is not a pure playmaker,” Luciano explains. “Reijnders excels at progressive passes and moving in the final third. He can express himself best in a team that moves the ball a lot, playing in tight spaces and quickly to overcome pressing lines.”
This profile seems tailor-made for Guardiola’s possession-based system at City, where intelligent movement and progressive passing are paramount.
Ambitious Target
Reijnders himself has expressed lofty ambitions: “My biggest goal is to win as many trophies as possible. Because if I play football, it’s to write my name in the history books. Being a Ballon d’Or candidate one day is a dream.”
Related Posts:
These aspirations align perfectly with City’s trophy-hunting ethos, making the potential transfer sensible for both parties – especially with AC Milan missing Champions League qualification for next season.
Financial Reality
While Reijnders recently signed a contract extension until 2030, reports suggest AC Milan would demand a club-record fee exceeding the €67m Real Madrid paid for Kaka in 2009. Given City’s financial muscle and recent €75m January splurge on Omar Marmoush, such a figure appears within reach for the dethroned Premier League champions.
Should Reijnders make the move to Manchester, he would join a midfield already featuring talents like Rodri (valued at €130m) and become part of City’s plan to regain their Premier League crown next season.
