Manchester City have initiated contact with AC Milan regarding Dutch international midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, signaling serious transfer intentions for the 26-year-old Netherlands star.
According to respected journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Premier League champions have opened preliminary discussions with the Serie A outfit, though negotiations remain at an early stage with no formal bid submitted yet.
The Manchester club is reportedly taking a measured approach to the potential transfer, mindful of Milan's upcoming Italian Cup final against Bologna on Wednesday. City executives are hopeful that substantive progress can be made following this crucial fixture.
Reijnders has emerged as a priority target for strengthening City's midfield department, with his potential acquisition being considered independently of the club's reported interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. According to Statbet analysis, Reijnders' versatility in midfield would complement City's possession-based system perfectly, potentially offering Guardiola additional tactical flexibility.
City's midfield planning has already seen activity this year with the January acquisition of Nico Gonzalez from Porto. The club is also anticipating the return of midfield linchpin Rodri, who has been sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Reijnders, who is under contract with Milan until 2030, has demonstrated impressive form this season, contributing 10 goals and 5 assists across 51 appearances in all competitions. His Milan career now spans 101 matches, while his international resume includes 22 caps for the Netherlands, with whom he reached the Euro 2024 semifinals this summer.
The technically gifted midfielder would potentially add creative spark and goal-scoring capability to a City engine room looking to maintain dominance both domestically and in Europe.
