The transfer window is officially open, and Hugo Viana has wasted little time in getting to work for Manchester City.
Having replaced Txiki Begiristain at a difficult time – last season was the first without silverware for Manchester City since the 2016/17 campaign – the man from Barcelos is acting quickly, and already seems to have a signing wrapped up in Tijjani Reijnders.
Now, the Mirror have revealed when Manchester City hope to announce the Netherlands international’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City could announce Tijjani Reijnders next week
Reijnders could officially become a Manchester City player as early as tomorrow (Monday 2nd June).
The Mirror believe the Citizens hope to have the Dutchman signed at some stage in the next seven days, with the total cost of the deal coming in at £60m.
Manchester City initially lowballed AC Milan with a bid in the region of £55m, but an agreement has now been reached for the man who scored 15 goals from central midfield last season.
Reijnders has already agreed personal terms with Manchester City, so barring any issues with his medical, the expectation is that he officially links up with Guardiola next week.
Pep Guardiola is getting a hybrid of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are two players Manchester City need to replace at the respective ages of 34 and 30, and Reijnders could even replicate what both bring to the side.
The Athletic have already published a detailed scouting report on the Dutchman, branding him a “ready-made Guardiola player” who is capable of both dropping deep to collect the ball, and also finish moves as a late arriver into the box.
That is similar to how Guardiola used Gundogan at the peak of his powers, and Reijnders is also described as somebody who can “dictate the tempo” of matches in several ways like Silva, mixing it up between playing short, quick passes or carrying the ball himself.
If the 26-year-old can bring these traits to the Premier League and successfully mimic what these two influential players do so well under Guardiola, that £60m fee could quickly look a bargain.
