Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola isn’t used to going entire seasons without a trophy.
Indeed, the 2024/25 campaign was just the second in his career without a single major trophy being won, and he needs to change things this summer.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola applauds fans after the match
The summer transfer window could be the most important in the club’s recent history. Kevin De Bruyne is departing, while several other players could be sold.
In terms of incomings, Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been routinely linked over the previous few weeks, but the latest on that is that Wirtz will not be heading to the Etihad.
Wirtz-Leverkusen
Recent news has seen AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders linked with a move too.
Why Man City must sign Tijjani Reijnders
With De Bruyne leaving and several midfielders aged 30 or over, Guardiola looks set to bring in someone younger during the summer.
Reijnders fits the bill, especially as he is coming to the peak of his powers. The Dutchman has enjoyed a sublime campaign with Milan throughout 2024/25.
tijjani-reijnders-ac-milan
There has been a distinct lack of goals from City’s central midfield options this term. Matheus Nunes is the highest scorer with four, but the Milan sensation will be able to add an attacking threat to Guardiola’s side.
Indeed, the 26-year-old has scored 15 times and provided five assists for the Serie A side.
Furthermore, when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the midfielder ranks in the top 3% for both non-penalty goals (0.29) and progressive carries (3.11) per 90, along with ranking in the top 16% for touches in the attacking penalty area.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
This suggests the Dutchman loves bursting forward into dangerous positions regularly and could give City some much-needed dynamism in the heart of the pitch.
What a move for Reijnders would mean for City
If he does sign, it could be curtains for Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan played a key role for City during his first spell at the club, winning everything that was on offer.
A single-year sabbatical in Barcelona didn’t go as planned for the former Borussia Dortmund star, and he returned to the Etihad last summer.
Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan
Hailed as “exceptional” by Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, upon his arrival, he failed to replicate the feats of his first spell back in Manchester.
Across 48 matches, the 34-year-old recorded just seven goal contributions in all competitions for the club, a far cry from the 18 he registered two seasons ago.
Ilkay Gundogan's Man City stats
Season
2024/25
2022/23
2021/22
2020/21
2019/20
2018/19
2017/18
2016/17
Via Transfermarkt
Of course, age catches up with us all, but the midfielder simply failed to offer much for Guardiola throughout the campaign, especially in the Premier League.
Not only did he create just three big chances across 31 league games, but the Turkish-born star failed to score a single goal, won less than 50% of his total duels and made only 0.8 tackles per game.
If City capture the signing of Reijnders in the next few weeks, it will surely mean the end of Gundogan’s second stint in England.
They say never go back. In Gundogan’s case, perhaps he should have remained in Barcelona.
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