Manchester City, a dominant force in English football, recently ended their impressive streak of four Premier League titles in five years by concluding the 2022/23 season without a major trophy for the first time since 2016/17. The club appears equally committed to rebuilding its own squad. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, they are in negotiations with AC Milan for midfielder Tijjani Reijnders as part of their summer transfer overhaul.
The new summer transfer window opens on June 16. Just remember, it closes on September 1 at 7 pm sharp! City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, is urging them to implement a much more aggressive approach to the upcoming transfer market. He says past draft day decisions have dramatically affected the course of the team.
Transfer Negotiations for Reijnders
Almost as pivotal a target as Reijnders has turned out to be and City is still in negotiations with AC Milan for his signature too. The Italian club is asking for more than £50 million (€60 million) for the Netherlands international. In return, they hope to be paid about £59 million (€70 million).
Reijnders’s exceptional season in Serie A, where he scored the most goals and had the most assists of any midfielder, only added fuel to the fire. His performances have impressed Manchester City to the point that they’re reportedly interested in strengthening their midfield this summer. Alongside Reijnders, City aims to strengthen various positions, including full-back, centre-back, and goalkeeper, as they look to enhance their squad depth.
“We already started that rebuild of this team in January,” – Khaldoon Al Mubarak
City’s summer-long chase of Reijnders fits into the club’s long-term plan to rejuvenate their roster. Over the past seven or eight years, they have consistently focused on rebuilding to maintain competitiveness at the highest level.
Lessons from Last Season
Al-Mubarak seemed aware of the problems from last season. He made clear his commitment to making an aggressive, proactive approach in the transfer market. He continued by lamenting missed opportunities that he thinks have cost the club a fortune.
“This year is another year where I think when I look back, last summer, we probably should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do,” – Khaldoon Al Mubarak
The chairman’s remarks certainly underscore the need for long-term, strategic planning and decision-making. Manchester City’s management recognizes that past oversights can have lasting effects on the club’s success.
“We didn’t do that and that ended up costing us this year,” – Khaldoon Al Mubarak
As they prepare for the new season, City aims to rectify previous mistakes by making calculated investments in key areas of the squad.
Guardiola’s Experience and Team Vision
Until this season, Pep Guardiola had enjoyed a charmed life at Manchester City. No doubt, he’s had an unexpected avalanche of challenges during his tenure. During these long and arduous journeys, he focused on experience learnt through these trials.
“There’s been a lot of challenges that we’ve, I’ve never dealt with personally, professionally, over these last 17 years combined,” – Pep Guardiola
Guardiola’s lengthy experience in management reinforces his commitment to developing a resilient team capable of facing the pressures of high-stakes competition. The summer 2024 transfer window is now the most important Manchester City have faced in years. They are hungry to reinvigorate their roster and return to the top.
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