Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the situation of Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, with a meeting planned to discuss the player’s future, according to Caught Offside. The Gunners are joined by Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Reijnders’ former club AC Milan in expressing interest in the Dutch international.
Arsenal and Manchester City are currently engaged in a tight battle for the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta’s side holding a five-point lead, though City have a game in hand. The two clubs have previously conducted business together, with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus both moving from City to Arsenal under Arteta.
Reijnders joined Manchester City last summer and initially made a strong impact, contributing to three goals in his first five Premier League appearances. However, his form has dipped, and he has found himself frequently on the bench in recent weeks. He has not featured in any of City’s last four games.
A source close to the situation indicated that Reijnders and City are likely to discuss his future at the end of the season. Currently, there is no indication that the player is actively seeking a move, and City are not necessarily inclined to let him leave so soon after his arrival. However, the lack of recent playing time suggests an opportunity may arise.
Despite the reported interest, Caught Offside insider Mark Brus suggests Reijnders is not a clear priority for any of the interested clubs. Brus argues that Arsenal, now arguably on par with Manchester City, should avoid pursuing players who cannot consistently break into Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven. The fact that Guardiola hasn’t utilized Reijnders during the crucial title run-in is seen as a significant indicator of his current standing at the club. If Reijnders were to rediscover his early-season form, it is believed City would be even less willing to consider a sale.
