Manchester City look to be closing in on their first transfer of the summer in the form of Tijjani Reijnders.
Fans are very excited for this window, with the club looking to respond after a highly disappointing 2024/25 season.
And the club are moving early, with AC Milan midfielder Reijnders now set to join Manchester City.
Manchester City fans have expressed their delight over the Reijnders deal, believing he could be a fantastic addition to Pep Guardiola’s team.
The hope is that the Dutchman can come in and make an immediate impact, with the bulk of City’s problems having been in midfield last term.
Tijjani Reijnders is a very positive signing – and it’s also one that could really benefit one star who has struggled in recent times.
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Tijjani Reijnders move can help Phil Foden shine again at Man City
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Reijnders was one of the standout midfielders in Italy last season
This was underlined by him making it into the Serie A Team of the Season, and now this transfer to City – which is set to cost the club £46 million initially (with add-ons to follow).
One of the most impressive aspects of Reijnders’ season in 2024/25 was his goalscoring.
He got 15 across all competitions, and this is really good news for City, who did not have a goalscoring midfielder last season – although Mateo Kovacic did score more than expected with seven.
And having a goalscoring midfielder is potentially good news for Phil Foden, who had a season to forget for City in 2024/25.
The 25-year-old had a massive drop-off from the season before, and only scored 10 across all competitions.
In theory, the presence of Reijnders might mean less pressure on Foden to come up with goals.
With there being another source in the team, he will perhaps feel less responsibility to be the man who gets the most goals after Erling Haaland.
It’s not out of the question Reijnders and Foden could be used as a pair of eights. And if that does happen, then the new signing could bring the best out of Foden.
Why Phil Foden struggled for Man City in 2024/25
Foden had a disappointing campaign in 2024/25, and last month, the star shed light on what he couldn’t kick on from his previous campaign.
The number 47 put his struggles down to a combination of injury and off-field issues.
He said (via BBC Sport): “It’s been difficult. It took a while to heal before I can push myself back in training, I had to look after it. It’s been a frustrating season for me.
“I know if everything was OK, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately, I’ve had a difficult season.”
Foden told the Manchester Evening News in January: “I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It’s one of them – sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit.”
Foden was sensational in 2023/24 and scooped the Player of the Season award. Hopefully, with Reijnders’ signing and other exciting players to come, Foden will be able to get back on track at the Etihad Stadium.