Manchester City have sealed a summer agreement with their first signing, according to reports.
Revamped Article:
Eccentric, right? Manchester City's dry spell in the trophy department has lasted a whopping eight years, leaving them yearning for a change. They dropped like a lead balloon before the Champions League round of 16, lost in the FA Cup final, and their Carabao Cup and Premier League performances were flat-out disappointing.
Legendary player Kevin De Bruyne is bidding farewell after ten years, and it seems like several veterans are waving their goodbyes too, requiring Pep Guardiola to shake things up next season with a fresh tactics overhaul.
Manchester City's Midfield Pursuit
The silver lining? 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri returned to action towards the end of their season finale against Fulham, but the identity of his fellow midfield partner next season remains unclear. The priority is to replace De Bruyne, which is a Herculean task but not one they're shying away from.
Enter Tijjani Reijnders, AC Milan's Dutch midfielder, spotted by our website as one of the world's stellar central midfielders. A bid was initially rejected by Milan, but theBlues aren't deterred – they're intensely keen on nabbing the Dutchman.
Currently valued at €75 million including bonuses, AC Milan's asking price was initially met with a bid of around €55 million with an extra €5 million in bonuses.
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Scoops from Calciomercato suggest the deal's already been struck, and they're now merely awaiting an agreement between the two clubs on a fee. Gazzetta Dello Sport estimates the deal might amount to around €70 million, and his father, who's also his agent, is eager to seal the deal promptly to secure Reijnders' participation in the Club World Cup.
Corriere Dello Sport anticipate a bid tailored to AC Milan's price expectations, expediting a swift deal between the two parties.
Reijnders won't be an exact replica of De Bruyne, but he'd still be a coup for Manchester City. Last season, he recorded 20 goal contributions across competitions, and teaming up with a more nimble attacking midfielder would lighten the load on his teammates following De Bruyne's departure.
That being said, the €25 million premium they'd likely pay for his services requires him to get off the ground running as soon as he joins City to ensure good value.
Enrichment Data:- Details: Manchester City has agreed to a deal with AC Milan for Tijjani Reijnders, worth around £46.3m to £59m, subject to bonuses[1][3][4]. Reijnders anticipates a five-year contract with Manchester City[1][3], strengthening Pep Guardiola's midfield options in De Bruyne's absence.- Potential Implications: * Midfield Depth: Reijnders will add depth to Manchester City's midfield, providing Guardiola with more formation and strategy options. * Goal Scoring: His ability to contribute goals from midfield could ease the burden on forwards. * Adaptability: As a versatile player, Reijnders might adapt effectively to Guardiola's tactical systems, potentially enhancing the team's overall fluidity.
- Manchester City is intensely focused on signing Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, as he could fill the void left by Kevin De Bruyne in the midfield, especially since he has demonstrated his goal-scoring abilities with 20 contributions last season.
- As the deal for Tijjani Reijnders with Manchester City inches closer, it could potentially lead to the strengthening of their midfield depth in the European leagues, boosting their performance in upcoming competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League.
