The 26-year-old is believed to be one of the primary transfer targets for recruitment bosses this summer as they look to refresh Pep Guardiola’s playing squad and return it to its competitive best from the start of next season.
The recently-concluded 2024/25 campaign saw Manchester City fail to return any major silverware for the first time since Guardiola’s debut season at the club in 2016/17, despite one last opportunity against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final.
Defeat to Oliver Glasner’s side was thankfully followed by a third-placed finish in the Premier League to ensure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, and as such ensuring that transfer targets can be guaranteed top-level European football with a move to the club.
With a clear need for reinforcements in central roles, largely due to Kevin De Bruyne’s exit from the club in June, Manchester City are targeting arrivals in both the ‘No.8’ and ‘No.10’ positions with Tijjani Reijnders identified as the top target in the former role.
Now, according to the information of TuttoMercatoWeb’s Marco Conterio, Reijnders’ future is ‘increasingly distant’ from AC Milan, as a deal worth €70 million including bonuses with Manchester City is ‘ready to be closed’.
It is reported that the midfielder’s entourage and Etihad Stadium officials are in ‘close contact’, while Pep Guardiola has asked Hugo Viana and recruitment staff at the club to ‘go hard’ on the signing of the Netherlands international.
It remains to be seen whether Reijnders is being viewed as an additional member of Guardiola’s Manchester City squad, or whether the Dutchman could be replacing an existing player within the roster.
Among the names in central and forward roles still remaining uncertain over their long-term futures with the club include Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, while there has been some discussion over whether Ilkay Gundogan could depart.
However, the German midfielder has recently pointed towards his extended contract following 50 appearances for the club across competitions during the last campaign, insisting that he only sees his future in Sky Blue for now.
