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Man City targeting Dutch star in record move
Man City are plotting a move for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders this summer, but would need to stump up over £57m according to the Telegraph. That is the fee Milan sold Kaka to Real Madrid for in the summer of 2009, and remains the Italian club’s record departure.
The Telegraph reports that only a figure in excess of that would be enough to prize the player away from San Siro, as Milan brace for interest in the 26 year old. Reijnders is also considered by Milan to be much more valuable than the £55 million they received from Newcastle for the services of Sandro Tonali.
Reijnders has been one the standout performers for AC Milan since joining the club from AZ Alkmaar in 2023. He has 10 goals and four assists so far this season and can play as a traditional box to box midfielder or a more defensive holding midfielder.
City are known to be targeting midfield reinforcements this summer, with their squad in need of a refresh. The club confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will depart the club as a free agent this summer, while the futures of Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan are unclear at the moment. Gundogan in particular will be 35 next season and manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that City is in need of more depth in midfield.
Long term holding midfielder Rodri will be returning from a serious injury, and Reijnders is seen as an ideal deputy in that position if need be.
City looking to add Reijnders
Riejnders is comfortable in various midfield schemes, usually lining up alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the centre of Milan’s 3-4-2-1 setup. For the Netherlands he usually plays a bit deeper, as one of two holding midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 setup.
He excels at driving with the ball, committing defenders to him to create space for others. He would bolster City’s ranks and give Guardiola an option slightly different to what he has now.
Reijnders would likely not be the only midfield acquisition, with confirmation coming earlier of City’s plan to advance in their efforts to sign Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White. Gibbs-White is more an all out attacking midfielder and would not compete directly with Reijnders for a place in the XI.
City also remain interested in Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz despite rumours of the player’s interest in joining Bayern Munich, while Munich talisman Jamal Musiala is also known to be admired by City.
