Manchester City explore personal terms for new ‘No.8’ with opening formal bid expected imminently | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City are progressing with their work on signing a new ‘No.8’ for Pep Guardiola’s midfield this summer, according to reports.

The former Premier League champions are expected to strengthen significantly in the midfield ranks this summer, as Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain aim to get Pep Guardiola’s playing squad back to its competitive best following a disappointing campaign.

Kevin De Bruyne’s pending exit from the first-team squad after 10 years of dedicated and legendary service to the club has placed the attacking midfield role at the very top of the club’s priorities, with Florian Wirtz understood to be the number one target.

However, a clear lack of legs in the centre of the park due to age and injury problems throughout the course of the season has meant that more than one new central player can be expected to arrive through the Etihad doors this summer.

That leads the club on to Serie A star Tijjani Reijnders, who is approaching the end of a hugely impressive campaign with AC Milan from an individual perspective, while his ability to link play from defence into attack is a clear attraction for City bosses.

Now, according to the information of Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City officials will submit their opening formal bid to AC Milan for Tijjani Reijnders in the ‘upcoming weeks’.

It is detailed that the Dutchman wants to focus on the final games of the season with his current club and while City respect that, a bid will follow as the midfielder is their main target for the ‘No.8’ role this summer.

Additional reporting courtesy of Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that City officials know Tijjani Reijnders’ current preference is a move to the Etihad Stadium and have already explored the personal terms to make a deal happen.

Reijnders himself has already spoken of his admiration for one of Manchester City’s current but outgoing stars, as he revealed to the Athletic during a recent interview that he would often look up to Kevin De Bruyne.

“When I got older, I looked [up] a lot to Kevin De Bruyne,” the 26-year-old said having admitted that he previously admired the work of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

“I watched his games, YouTube clips, especially the way he was scanning the pitch before he gets the ball so he always knows where the space is. I try to do the same.”

It remains to be seen whether Tijjani Rejinders is being viewed as a direct replacement to an existing name within the Manchester City midfield, with an earlier suggestion claiming that the club could be open to offers for Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva this summer.