Manchester City are weighing up a summer move for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders as part of a broader plan to reshape their midfield options ahead of next season.
The Dutch international has emerged as a top candidate to reinforce City’s engine room, with the club targeting fresh talent to rejuvenate an area of the squad undergoing transition.
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, City view Reijnders as a potential long-term replacement for Ilkay Gündogan, who departed for Barcelona last summer after a trophy-laden spell at the Etihad.
The move comes amid speculation that City are preparing for key changes in midfield. While German playmaker Florian Wirtz is being lined up as the possible heir to Kevin De Bruyne, who continues to battle with recurring injuries, Reijnders is considered ideal to bring balance and control to the middle of the pitch—a quality reminiscent of Gündogan’s influence during his time under Pep Guardiola.
Reijnders has enjoyed an impressive season at AC Milan, having established himself as a reliable and dynamic presence in the heart of Stefano Pioli’s midfield.
His performances in Serie A and European competitions have attracted significant attention, and City’s interest is the latest indication of the player’s rising stock across Europe.
AC Milan, however, are not expected to let him leave without a fight. The Italian club have reportedly placed a valuation of €65 million on the 25-year-old, a figure that does not include potential performance-related bonuses.
Whether City are willing to meet that asking price remains to be seen, especially as they weigh up multiple targets in a bid to strengthen their squad for the long term.
For Guardiola, the midfield remains an area of strategic focus, particularly given the evolving roles of De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri.
The potential addition of Reijnders would offer another versatile option capable of playing box-to-box or sitting deeper, providing Guardiola with more tactical flexibility across domestic and European fixtures.
City’s midfield transformation is being approached with clear intent, driven by a desire to remain competitive at the highest level following a historic treble-winning campaign in 2022–23.
With several first-team players reaching the latter stages of their careers, and the rigours of a demanding fixture schedule, the recruitment of younger talent is viewed as essential.
Reijnders, who joined AC Milan in the summer of 2023, has quickly adapted to life in Italy after his move from AZ Alkmaar.
His blend of athleticism, vision, and composure has made him one of the standout midfielders in Serie A this season, further justifying Milan’s investment and increasing his market appeal.
While no official bid has been made by Manchester City at this stage, the club’s interest is understood to be genuine, with talks expected to accelerate after the conclusion of the current campaign.
For now, Reijnders remains focused on helping AC Milan finish the season strongly, but his future could become one of the defining storylines of the summer transfer window.
🔴 Tijjani Reijnders despertó el interés del Inter y del Milan tras jugar muy bien contra la Lazio en Conference League.
Los interistas tuvieron contactos con su agente pero no se concretizaron, después el Milan superó en la carrera al Barcelona y lo acabó fichando.
[@86_longo] pic.twitter.com/w5p3Tz8Dd2
— Soy Calcio (@SoyCalcio_) September 13, 2023
