Manchester City have already embarked on an extensive rebuild this year in pursuit of returning to the top of the game.
Manchester City signed a host of exciting players in January and they’re now in the process of trying to bring some more new recruits to the Etihad Stadium.
City are reported to have approached Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz. City are also said to have made contact over Lyon star Rayan Cherki.
Now, it has been reported that City have made an approach for a £57million-rated midfielder who has been likened to a ‘prime’ Ilkay Gundogan.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
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Manchester City hopeful of signing Tijjani Reijnders
City have contacted AC Milan to express an interest in signing Tijjani Reijnders, according to The Athletic.
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The report claims talks between the two clubs are under way but at an early stage, with a bid yet to be submitted.
City are mindful of Milan’s focus on Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final against Bologna, added the report.
However, City are said to be hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Milan over Reijnders.
The Dutch international is reported to be a key target for City to bolster their options at No. 8.
In addition, their interest in Reijnders is said to be independent of their interest in Wirtz and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
It has been reported that Milan would like a fee in excess of £57million for Reijnders.
This would surpass their club-record sale when Kaka signed for Real Madrid in 2009.
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What Tijjani Reijnders could bring to Manchester City
Individually speaking, Reijnders has enjoyed a superb season for Milan, despite the Rossoneri’s below-par season.
The 26-year-old has registered 10 goals and five assists from 35 Serie A outings, with a further three goals in the Champions League and two in the Coppa Italia.
As per Total Football Analysis, Reijnders is ‘one of the best passers in Serie A’ and also boasts ‘excellent dribbling skills’.
Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News say Reijnders is ‘more in the mould of a prime Gundogan’.
They deemed him ‘a midfield eight capable of sitting but more effective as a ranging central player with the freedom to break forward.’
They also described him as ‘a creative force – able to spot a pass with devastating accuracy while also possessing dribbling skills to beat opponents.
‘It’s not difficult to envisage him alongside Rodri in a new-look City midfield.’
City fans have already given their verdict on the prospect of signing Reijnders.