Manchester City can't wait to close the book on an extremely complicated season, the most difficult of the Pep Guardiola era. Qualification for next season’s Champions League still needs to be secured in the final two league matches, following the unexpected 0-0 draw against already-relegated Southampton in the last round. However, the English club's attention is also firmly on the upcoming transfer window, which promises to be particularly spectacular.
Rumors from England about the Citizens’ strong interest in Tijjani Reijnders (also reportedly targeted by Real Madrid, according to reports from Spain) are becoming increasingly persistent and credible. Pep Guardiola has been captivated by the performances of the Dutch midfielder from Milan this season and is convinced he is the ideal player to bring talent and freshness to a midfield that is set to be heavily revamped. Ideally, the 1998-born player would fill the void left by Ilkay Gundogan, who, despite having triggered the clause to extend his contract until 2026 (which was set to expire on June 30), no longer offers the guarantees of being the player who left Manchester two years ago to join Barcelona.
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In recent weeks, City has made initial exploratory contacts with Tijjani Reijnders' entourage. The player recently extended his contract until June 30, 2030, with his salary raised to 3.5 million euros per season. The former AZ Alkmaar player is deeply attached to Milan, for the trust the club has shown him, and for the growth and visibility he has achieved during his first two seasons in Italy. The Rossoneri club is aware of the interest from abroad for one of the best midfielders in Europe in terms of consistency, but at the same time considers him a fundamental piece for the future. It would take a truly significant offer — and, for now, there are no contacts between the clubs — to even plant the seed of doubt, especially considering that in the 2025/26 season, the club will miss out on the substantial revenues from Champions League participation, as pointed out by those at Calciomercato.com.
Kevin De Bruyne’s Departure and the Search for His Successor
However, while Reijnders remains the "all-round midfielder" Guardiola has highlighted as a primary target for the next transfer window, he will not be the only major reinforcement in that department. Kevin De Bruyne has already communicated several weeks ago that these will be his last matches wearing the Manchester City shirt, with the club deciding not to offer him a renewal beyond his contract expiring on June 30. The Belgian player, having digested the disappointment, is already focused on his next chapter, and among the hottest current options is a move to Napoli, who are also planning an ambitious strengthening campaign.
And to replace him, the name City would like to target is a significant one: Florian Wirtz.
The Bayer Leverkusen star is ready to take an important step in his career. After contributing last year to the club’s historic first Bundesliga title and the German Cup triumph, having led the team to the Europa League final, and finishing this season with impressive numbers — 16 goals and 15 assists — the 2003-born player is considering a move elsewhere. Bayern Munich has been tracking him for some time and is working to give Vincent Kompany a partnership completed by Jonathan Tah, also set to arrive (on a free transfer) from Leverkusen. Florian Wirtz is under contract with the Werkself until the summer of 2027 and, according to reports from Germany, the club is demanding a sky-high fee for his departure: no less than 150 million euros.
A huge figure, which Manchester City would have no trouble covering to provide Guardiola with a player he believes could take the final step in his development, transforming into an attacking midfielder with deeper playmaking responsibilities, in a De Bruyne-like role. The deal remains complicated, as much will depend on whether the player himself is willing to leave his country to try a high-level experience abroad. Alternatively, City is monitoring another midfielder who has stood out among the best performers this year: Morgan Gibbs-White. The 2000-born player, with his 6 goals and 10 assists, has driven Nottingham Forest to the top positions of the table, bringing them back to European competition after a very long absence. He is also on Guardiola’s shortlist, along with Tijjani Reijnders and Florian Wirtz. Manchester City is ready to get very serious.
