Tijjani Reijnders' AC Milan exit under scrutiny as Manchester City future comes into doubt

A year ago, Tijjani Reijnders' departure left many AC Milan supporters frustrated. One of the standout midfielders in Serie A, arguably second only to Scott McTominay that season, was sold to Manchester City after Milan were forced to raise funds following their failure to qualify for any European competition.

The transfer fee that divided opinion
Pep Guardiola was instrumental in bringing Reijnders to the Etihad, with City agreeing a deal worth €55m plus a further €15m in add-ons, taking the total package to €70m. Many Milan fans felt the fee undervalued one of the club's most influential players, particularly given the spending power of Premier League clubs.

Initially, those concerns appeared justified. Reijnders settled quickly in England and established himself as a key figure in City's midfield. However, the picture has since changed, with Guardiola favouring different tactical solutions and the Dutch international finding playing time increasingly difficult to come by.

What happens next?
A number of clubs have made enquiries about Reijnders, but Manchester City are not currently prepared to sanction a loan deal with an option to buy. Should City soften their stance, several Serie A clubs would be expected to show interest.

Galatasaray are also monitoring the situation, although much could depend on City's pursuit of highly rated Moroccan midfielder Bouaddi, which may influence the club's plans for Reijnders.

The Netherlands international celebrates his 28th birthday today.