Manchester City Set To Go Hard For This 20 G/A Midfielder: Is It The Right Decision? | OneFootball

Manchester City, after a season where margins have become tighter, have started to move aggressively in the market. Pep Guardiola’s squad, although still effective, has begun to show signs of wear and tear, especially in midfield.

The imminent departure of Kevin De Bruyne and the advanced age of stars such as Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic have forced the club to plan ahead. In addition, the new challenge of the Club World Cup creates more pressure to bring in reinforcements as soon as possible. In this context, the board have accelerated their search for a new organiser with pace, energy and goals.

Manchester City Set To Go Hard For Tijjani Reijnders

According to a report from the Daily Mail, the name most in the Etihad offices is Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutchman shone brightly for AC Milan last season, making 54 appearances and contributing 20 goals and assists together.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan gestures during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 24, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

City, after letting go of Florian Wirtz to Liverpool, have turned their attention to the Dutch midfielder and Morgan Gibbs-White. The fee for Reijnders is believed to be in the region of £55m, and the English club are already working hard to secure his arrival ahead of next month’s Club World Cup.

Is It The Right Decision?

From a technical point of view, signing Reijnders seems like a sensible decision. He is versatile, combines intensity with technique and can occupy several positions in the middle. His performances for Milan have been consistent, and receiving the award for best midfielder in Serie A is no coincidence. The figure, while high, fits the profile of a player in his physical prime and with immediate promise.

Guardiola needs fresh legs that understand his idea of play and execute with precision. Reijnders not only provides deployment, but he also scores goals and distributes the ball well. However, the context deserves another reading. Milan, under pressure because of their sporting failure, could take advantage of this sale to start a new cycle.

For City, paying this price represents more of an emergency investment than a long-term operation. Perhaps, if De Bruyne continues for another year, spending that sum now would be rash. But if the aim is to maintain unbroken hegemony, then the gamble on Reijnders fits. In the end, it is a decision that mixes tactical necessity with the club’s pressure. And sometimes, at these clubs, that outweighs any long-term plan.