Manchester City has reportedly set its sights on AC Milan’s star midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders, as a potential winter transfer target.
This interest comes amid a troubling period for Pep Guardiola’s side, which has faced an injury crisis that’s led to a disappointing four-game losing streak across competitions. City’s recent struggles include a Carabao Cup exit in the fourth round and two consecutive 2-1 defeats in the Premier League to Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion. This poor run was punctuated by a significant 4-1 loss to Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League.
A key factor in City’s recent form is the ongoing absence of Rodri, who is expected to be out for the rest of the season due to a severe double knee injury. Without their Ballon d’Or winner, City has struggled to find stability, prompting officials to look at the upcoming transfer window for a capable replacement in Rodri’s role.
Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri reports that Tijjani Reijnders has caught Manchester City’s eye as a player who could bring the “freshness, competition, and dynamism” that Guardiola is seeking to reinvigorate his squad.
Although Reijnders is high on City’s list, no formal steps have been taken. The AC Milan midfielder remains contracted until June 2028, and the Italian club is reportedly interested in extending his contract by an additional year while doubling his salary.
City’s interest in Reijnders follows other links to Italian talent, especially since Rodri’s long-term absence was confirmed. The club has been connected to Torino’s Samuele Ricci, with other Serie A stars like Inter’s Nicolo Barella and Atalanta’s Ederson also mooted as potential targets.
In Rodri’s absence, Guardiola has experimented with other midfield options, including Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic. Young talents like Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly, and Jacob Wright have shown promise but are yet to solidify themselves as consistent replacements.
The search for midfield reinforcement continues as Manchester City looks to regain its footing and adapt to life without Rodri.
