Tijjani Reijnders: The elite midfielder ready to take up Gundogan’s Man City mantle

Man City are on the verge of signing the AC Milan midfielder for a €55m transfer fee. He will be worth every cent...

Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan in what promises to be the first major move for Pep Guardiola’s side in the transfer market this summer.

City have invested heavily in the transfer market this year and are set to do so again, with Reijnders set to leave the Rossoneri in a deal worth €55 million.

This matches the Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of the 26-year-old Netherlands international, so what can Guardiola and the Cityzens expect for their money?

Why the hype?

Reijnders will arrive at Man City as the likely replacement for Ilkay Gundogan in the centre of midfield. Although a new one-year extension was triggered in the contract of the 34-year-old based on his appearances this season, the former Barcelona star is liable to take a back seat at the Etihad.

SciSports has underlined how similar the players are in terms of their style, so look for the Dutchman to take up the role that Gundogan would once have excelled in for Guardiola.

Reijnders is a younger and more versatile option, able to play as a traditional No.8 or as a more defensive or attacking player. With Rayan Cherki signing for City to occupy the playmaking duties of Kevin De Bruyne, the former AZ star can expect a more withdrawn role.

In terms of Reijnders’ output, he has been affected by playing in a poor Milan side over the course of the last year. His passing numbers do not live up to those of Gundogan, but given the ball dominance of Manchester City, that should come as little surprise.

He does, however, carry a greater goal threat, having netted 10 times in 37 Serie A appearances last season. This compares to just one goal from Gundogan at City. While the German claims a 5-3 advantage in terms of assists, he actually trails in xA 4.51-4.01.

Bang on the money

Reijnders’ transfer fee is almost perfect, according to FootballTransfers’ unique algorithm, which uses in-game data and historical transfers to calculate the value of players.

The Dutchman’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €55.6m. Given that City often have to pay a premium for their players due to their reputation as a rich Premier League club, this represents excellent business on their part.

Tijjani Reijnders to Man City: The expert view

Italian football expert Carlo Garganese has explained to FootballTransfers that Reijnders looks like a terrific fit for Guardiola’s side.

“Reijnders is one of the best midfielders in Serie A - with perhaps only Scott McTominay performing at a higher level than him in 2024-25,” he says.

“Pep Guardiola is a massive fan of the Dutchman, and it is easy to see why. Reijnders boasts the press-breaking ability on the ball to surge into space that very few midfielders possess.

“This past season, he really took his game onto a new level as he delivered 15 goals and five assists in all competitions. These numbers are particularly impressive considering Milan endured one of the worst seasons in their history, as they failed to qualify for Europe and were knocked out of the Champions League in the play-offs.

“At the age of 26, he is entering his peak years and Guardiola will feel he has the attributes to develop him into a Premier League star.”

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