Sport

Manchester City reportedly set to snap up Serie A star this summer

He's attracting a fair few suitors.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 19th May 2025

Manchester City are reportedly set to make a Serie A star one of their first key signings in the summer transfer window, as links to Tijjani Reijnders seem to be gaining even more traction.

After domestic disappointment not only in the league this season but following defeat in the FA Cup this past weekend, Man City look to end the 24/25 campaign trophyless for the first time since 2017, unless they can lift the Club World Cup in July.

Manager Pep Guardiola has already been quizzed on whether the club needs a rebuild, and although he was steadfast in defending his last nine years of success, many supporters have been arguing similarly.

With that in mind, City’s recruitment already looks to be underway as several key first-team figures, namely Kevin De Bruyne, are set to be replaced, and Reijnders is said to be their first target.

According to multiple sources, the AC Milan midfielder had been eyed up by Man City months ago and despite a plethora of teams around Europe keen on signing him, Reijnders’ preference is thought to be East Manchester.

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The dynamic Dutchman has been one of the Rossoneri’s best players this season, registering 15 goals and five assists from central midfield, more than anyone in Serie A and one of the best strike rates from a non-forward across Europe.

At 26, the Eredivisie product is now one of the most attractive prospects around and entering his so-called prime years, making him potentially the perfect replacement in the middle of the park with the Blues’ biggest and most consistently creative outlet, De Bruyne, set to leave after a decade.

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There may be very few playmakers as brilliant as the Belgian, but getting a talent as highly-rated as Reijnders at this moment in his career could be a big coup for City.

Price tag-wise, it’s been suggested that the Italian club would want around €80 million (approx £67.4m) to secure his services.

If you haven’t seen him play before, here are a few of his highlights from this season.

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Like the look of him?

With Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri insisting that it would be Reijnders’ “dream” to play under Pep, it could merely be a case of Man City making Milan an attractive enough offer.

However, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also said to be monitoring his situation, it’s unlikely they’ll get a free run at him.

What do you reckon: would you like to see him at the Etihad?

Also, whilst you’re here, who do you think City need to hang on to this summer, and which squad members do you think they can afford to offload?

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Featured Images — Saggittarius A(via Wikimedia Commons)/Simon Gough (via Pexels)

Sport

Manchester City set for first signing of the summer as Rayan Aït-Nouri completes medical

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City medical done

Manchester City look to have finally signed an out-and-out left-back as Rayan Aït-Nouri is said to have completed his medical ahead of a move to the Etihad Stadium.

The French-born defender is expected to join Man City on a five-year deal worth a reported £31 million, including add-on fees of approximately £5m, becoming the first new signing ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

City spent significantly in the January window after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak argued they weren’t aggressive enough last summer, and they look to continue rebuilding the squad following several key departures, not least of all Kevin De Bruyne.

Although the transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the club, multiple outlets have now covered the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back being bound for the blue half of Manchester.

Having come through the youth system at Angers FC in Ligue 1, the versatile fullback was loaned to Wolves back in 2021 before being signed permanently later that same year.

The 24-year-old has made more than 150 appearances in ‘Old Gold’ since then, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, and has played for Algeria eight times after declaring allegiance back in 2022, despite having already represented ‘Les Bleus’.

More precisely, it’s the dynamism of Aït-Nouri that has seen him shortlisted by several clubs of late, with Pep Guardiola regularly deploying his fullbacks as utility players in his ever-fluid system.

Even in an often faltering Wolves side, he contributed to more goal involvements than any other defender in the league during 2024/25; created the fourth-most chances from a player in the backline, the second-most dribbles and won back possession in the final third more than any other defender.

Nevertheless, he still looks set to be one of the most orthodox left-backs City have signed in years – with the club having struggled for strength in depth in that area for some time – using the likes of Joško Gvardiol (the best fit), Nico O’Reilly and Nathan Aké in that position most recently.

Quick, confident on the ball and strong in the tackle, he’s tailor-made for bombing down the flanks and creating plenty of those trademark cut-back finishes for Pep’s attackers. While they already have plenty of options going forward, Khaldoon has insisted there will be “several” more signings all over the pitch.

Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Where else would you like to see improvements?

Aït-Nouri is expected to pen his City contract on Sunday, 8 June, meaning he will most likely be the first of a quickfire trio of new signings in the first half of June, with two other deals also believed to be close to being done.

In addition to long-admired target Tijjani Reijnders reportedly also undergoing his medical this weekend, another Rayan and fellow French-Algerian in Lyon’s Cherki, who is thought to be making a £30m move to play under the Catalan coach.

On the other hand, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see all three players unveiled in a single day, similar to what we saw just a few months ago.

What do you make of the business, Blues?

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Featured Images — Æthelred (via Wikimedia Commons)/Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)

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Alejandro Garnacho ‘will leave’ Manchester United with queue of clubs ‘keen’, according to reports

Danny Jones Danny Jones Alejandro Garnacho leaving Manchester United

It looks like a decision on Alejandro Garnacho has now been made, as the latest transfer news is that he ‘will be leaving’ Manchester United this summer, with a number of clubs already in waiting.

The Garnacho situation is one that the Man United administration, manager Ruben Amorim and fans alike would have wanted to avoid if possible, but with the talented winger and his entourage making plenty of noise off the pitch, it seems that it was only ever going to end one way.

With the Argentine talent and his family expressing their displeasure after he was left out of the starting lineup for the Europa League final, it was reported that Amorim took issue with his media comments and instructed him to find a new home.

Now, just a few weeks on from that season-defining game, when there was already plenty of doubt around his future at Old Trafford, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that a decision has been reached between both Garnacho and the club, with the 20-year-old expected to leave this summer.

Yes, Romano claims that the board have now bitten the bullet and a reconciliation between Garnacho and the United boss looks unlikely, with a decision now “confirmed.”

Moreover, the Italian journalist goes on to add that there are at least three clubs who are “already very keen”, with even more expected to be monitoring the situation over the coming weeks and months.

The situation has shades of Erik ten Hag’s ousting of Jadon Sancho or even how Amorim approached the fallout with first-team star Marcus Rashford, whose future is still up in the air following his loan deal at Aston Villa expiring.

Romano elaborated that while it looks like a “very difficult deal to do” financially for a number of those interested – Bayer Leverkusen, and Serie A sides like Napoli being some of those floated thus far, as well as plenty of Premier League teams.

In terms of domestically, Chelsea have been considered suitors of the number 17 for several months now, and have already begun their spending in this window by snapping up one of the Red Devils‘ supposed targets in Liam Delap.

You can see his full breakdown of the situation, among other transfer window updates, in more detail down below:

The youngster and academy product had been considered one of the club’s brightest prospects and bargains in recent years when he was picked up at just 16 from Atlético Madrid – not to mention quickly becoming a fan favourite – but it seems, ability aside, his character simply doesn’t fit the dressing room.

Since both Sancho and Chelsea have been mentioned, it’s also worth touching on those somewhat controversial circumstances.

While you could argue Amorim isn’t really losing a winger since the 25-year-old is now set to return to Carrington for the time being (a player he hasn’t been able to get his hands on yet), with Chelsea opting to avoid their obligation to sign him permanently, it still looks likely he’ll leave Man United.

Nevertheless, were the Portuguese coach somehow able to get a tune out of the previously exiled loanee, it could be intriguing to see how this one develops.

Jadon Sancho set for return to Manchester United after Chelsea pay to avoid permanent signing
They have already signed Matheus Cunha and looks close to confirming another Premier League forward.

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Featured Images — Ardfern (via WikiCommons)/Manchester United (screenshot via YouTube)

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