Manchester City could make a £51m bid for an “insane” midfielder this summer, with Pep Guardiola personally identifying him as a target, according to a report.
City stepping up midfielder pursuit
Given the drop-off in performance levels this season, Guardiola was already due to oversee a major rebuild this summer, and the need to bring in a new midfielder has now been exacerbated by the fact Kevin De Bruyne has announced his decision to leave at the end of the campaign.
Following the news, Man City have stepped up their pursuit of a replacement for the 33-year-old, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki recently emerging as a potential target, alongside FC Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, who Guardiola is believed to be a big fan of.
Not only does Guardiola need to bring in an attacking midfielder, but the manager may also be tasked with bringing in a new option in a slightly deeper role, given that Ilkay Gundogan is arguably in the twilight years of his career at 34-years-old.
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According to a report from Calcio Mercato, the Manchester City boss has now set his sights on AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, as he sets out to revamp his midfield this summer.
The Sky Blues could make a huge offer of around €50m – €60m (£43m – £51m) for Reijnders, despite the fact he has recently renewed his contract with the Italian side until the summer of 2030.
Real Madrid have also expressed an interest in the midfielder, having been impressed by his performances this season, but Guardiola’s side remain the most interested party, although they are yet to make a formal approach.
“Insane” Reijnders could be fantastic signing for City
The Dutchman has been one of AC Milan’s most consistent performers in the Serie A this season, averaging a 7.04 WhoScoered match rating, the second-highest figure in the squad, having particularly impressed from an attacking point of view.
The Milan star has nine goals and four assists to his name in 30 Serie A outings, and he places in the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, while also ranking highly across some other key metrics, when compared to other midfielders in the major 5 leagues.
|
Statistic |
Average per 90 |
|
Non-penalty goals |
0.29 (97th percentile) |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.52 (86th percentile) |
|
Progressive carries |
3.32 (98th percentile) |
|
Successful take-ons |
1.11 (88th percentile) |
Football scout Ben Mattinson is also particularly fond of the Netherlands international, having lauded him for his “insane” performances earlier in the campaign, and at 26-years-old, the central midfielder could be entering his prime years.
Gundogan has been a fantastic servant to City, while Mateo Kovacic was an important player during last season’s Premier League title triumph, but Guardiola clearly feels he needs to refresh his options in midfield, and Reijnders could be a fantastic signing.
