AC Milan reportedly face the threat of interest from Manchester City in Tijjani Reijnders this summer, as he has emerged as a serious transfer target for the Premier League giants.
The 26-year-old arrived from AZ Alkmaar in 2023 and has since gone on to make 101 appearances for the Rossoneri, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in those outings.
READ MORE: Crucial double fitness boost touted for Milan ahead of Bologna clash
Beyond his impact in the final third though, the Dutch international has firmly established himself as a key figure in the side with his tireless work ethic, technical ability and influence in both phases of the game, and having become a pillar of the current team, it would be a huge loss if he were to depart.
According to The Telegraph, Man City have made Reijnders a ‘serious summer target’ as Pep Guardiola plots a rebuild of his squad after a disappointing season, and evidently our midfield engine has attracted attention with his impressive form.
It’s added that Milan would demand more than our previous record transfer fee for a sale which was Kaka, and so it remains to be seen if City are willing to match that valuation and make a significant bid to try and prise him away.
There’s an important summer ahead for Milan as there are still question marks over the appointment of a sporting director, whether or not Sergio Conceicao will remain as our coach beyond this season and how we will look to strengthen the squad ahead of the next campaign.
Particularly with the threat of failing to qualify for the Champions League, which is the most likely scenario, it could be a damaging factor that shapes our plans for the summer and perhaps forces us into unwanted decisions.
With frustration and disappointment rife among the supporters already having fallen short of our standards and expectations, selling one of our best players is certainly not going to improve the mood, but there will be a balancing act needed in terms of whether or not that ultimately funds our push to improve the group as a whole.
Much will also depend on Reijnders himself as having recently signed a contract extension to keep him with us until 2030, if he has no desire to leave, that will only strengthen our position, but time will tell how Milan handle the situation, and perhaps more pertinently, who will be leading those discussions as we await changes to the management structure at the club.
