Manchester City are wasting no time in reshaping their squad for the 2025-26 season, with the Premier League giants submitting an initial €60 million bid for AC Milan’s dynamic midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The move, part of a broader strategy to reclaim their dominance after a trophyless 2024-25 campaign, comes as chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak issued a bold warning to rivals Liverpool, who clinched the Premier League title. “We will be back,” Al-Mubarak declared, signaling City’s intent to rebound from a season where they secured Champions League qualification only on the final day. “This season is now behind us. Today is a new day. We start working and preparing for next season, and we’ve been doing that since January.”
Reijnders, a 26-year-old Netherlands international, has emerged as City’s top target to bolster their midfield, which faces a significant overhaul with Kevin De Bruyne’s confirmed departure to Napoli and uncertainties surrounding Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan. The versatile midfielder, lauded as a “total midfielder” by former Milan manager Stefano Pioli, has dazzled in Serie A, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists in 52 appearances this season. “I believe the best player at Milan is Reijnders,” said former Inter Milan defender Daniele Adani, praising his ability to combine “quantity, quality, timing of support, presence, and positioning.” City’s new sporting director, Hugo Viana, sees Reijnders as the ideal partner for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is nearing a return from a September ACL injury, to restore the team’s midfield solidity.
The €60 million offer, which includes add-ons, was swiftly rejected by AC Milan, who value Reijnders at €90 million, a figure that would surpass their record sale of Kaka to Real Madrid in 2009. Despite the gap, negotiations are advancing, with City reportedly preparing a €70 million bid. Reijnders, who signed a contract extension with Milan until 2030, is said to be enthusiastic about joining City, prioritizing a move to the Etihad to work under Pep Guardiola, whom he admires from his legendary Barcelona tenure. “Reijnders dreams of playing under Pep,” a source close to the player noted, highlighting his eagerness to cancel a planned Ibiza holiday to finalize the transfer before the FIFA Club World Cup in June.
City’s urgency stems from a desire to complete key signings before their Club World Cup opener against Wydad AC on June 18 in Philadelphia. Al-Mubarak admitted that last summer’s cautious transfer window, with only Savinho as a major arrival, “cost us this year.” “We probably should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do,” he said, vowing a swift and decisive approach this time. Alongside Reijnders, City are targeting Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, while also eyeing full-backs like Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri. The club’s £180 million January spree, including signings like Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez, underscores their commitment to a squad refresh.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are making their own moves, with interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. Al-Mubarak’s warning to the champions reflects City’s hunger to reclaim their throne. “I can see the hunger in these players,” he said, citing Erling Haaland’s reluctance to take a vacation and Rodri’s eagerness for more games. Reijnders’ potential arrival, with his 15 goals and ability to play as a No. 8 or in a deeper role, could be a game-changer. As City and Milan negotiate, the transfer saga promises to heat up, with City’s ambition to dominate the Premier League and Champions League driving their pursuit of the Dutch star.
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