Liverpool and Tottenham moves played down by £17m star's agent amid his Champions League masterclass
Yesterday at 04:45 PM
Despite the lure of the Premier League, and interest from Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City, one of Europe’s most in-form midfielders is in no rush to leave.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
Because, just one week after TBR reported that Manchester City have been massively impressed by Tijjani Reijnders’ AC Milan performances – Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona too – the only thing on the Dutchman’s mind is repaying the huge faith shown in him by the Rossoneri.
Most of Europe’s A-list clubs may have had reservations about taking a midfielder out of AZ Alkmaar and thrusting him straight into the heart of their engine room.
But Reijnders, one year after his £17 million arrival in San Siro, continues to go from strength to strength.
And, with interest rising from elsewhere on the continent, it should come as little surprise that Milan are looking to tie down the silky-smooth playmaker in an attempt to ward off the likes of Man City and Liverpool.
Tijjani Reijnders to sign Milan deal amid Liverpool and Tottenham interest
“It's truly a grand gesture. Only the great clubs do this,” Reijnders father and agent, Martin, told De Telegraaf when discussing Milan’s plan to keep him at the seven-time European champions until the summer of 2030.
“Tijjani feels at home in the club and the city. He's moved by Milan's appreciation for him.”
“Just look at the smile with which he plays,” adds his younger brother Emilio, who plays back in the Eredivisie with PEC Zwolle. “He gives everything but manages to enjoy himself.
“The team likes Tijjani a lot, and they've taken care of him since the start. This has been important.”
With a well-taken goal in Milan’s 3-1 win away at Real Madrid on Wednesday night – Reijnders effortlessly controlling a tricky Rafael Leao pass before powering home – the midfielder has now matched his tally of four from the entirety of his debut season at the Italian giants.
Given the attributes Arne Slot, Ange Postecoglou and Pep Guardiola tend to look for in the centre of the park, meanwhile, it is easy to see why a player of Reijnders’ talents has caught the eye of those battling at the top of the Premier League.
A supreme ball-carrier, an excellent dribbler in tight spaces, and equally comfortable as a deep-lying playmaker or as a box-crashing number eight, there appears to be no limits to how far Reijnders can fly should he maintain his current progress.
Manchester City eyeing midfielders after Rodri blow
Man City are eyeing potential replacements for Ballon D’Or winner Rodri after his recent season-ending injury.
Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad is one of those on Man City’s list, though TBR understands the Spain international is holding out for Real Madrid.
Reijnders, meanwhile, is a footballer with more in common with a Matteo Kovacic, a Ryan Gravenberch, or a Yves Bissouma given the way he likes to carry the ball through the thirds.
Martin Reijnders recently admitted that there were a couple of unnamed Premier League clubs who reached out to his son before he swapped the Netherlands for Italy in 2023.
He also spoke with Barcelona’s technical director Deco before advising his son against a move that may have seen him stuck in an ill-fitting defensive role.
“Tijjani was also of interest to some English clubs,” Martin recalls, speaking to Algemeen Dagblad. “Only at Barcelona did I speak directly with Deco, the technical director.
“Of course, it’s flattering that they had him in their sights. After all, we’re talking about Barca! But they were looking for a replacement for Sergio Busquets.
“I immediately told Tijjani; ‘You are not that type of player. Before you know it, you’ll end up on the bench. And you’d become yet another player who fails abroad’.”
