It seems that Manchester City couldn’t have found a more perfect replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.
talkSPORT understands that Man City have reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial £46.3million.
The Dutchman has already agreed to a five-year contract at the Etihad and he is set to undergo a medical ahead of his move.
Reijnders will join Pep Guardiola’s squad having to fill the gaping hole left by the departure of De Bruyne, who said an emotional goodbye last month.
He departed Man City as a club legend, scoring 108 goals and assisting 177 more, while also winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League among many other trophies.
It left many questions over whether there will ever be another player like De Bruyne at the Etihad, or even the Premier League as a whole, again.
But, although the Belgians’ achievements will likely never be replicated, City may well have just found the perfect alternative.
Reijnders revealed in May that he has actually idolised De Bruyne throughout his career, proving this move was just meant to be.
Speaking to the Athletic last month, he said: “When I got older, I looked [up] a lot to Kevin De Bruyne. I watched his games, YouTube clips.
“Especially the way he was scanning the pitch before he gets the ball so he always knows where the space is. I try to do the same.”
Reijnders, who joined AC Milan from Feyenoord in 2023, has been a mainstay in the team and reached a new level last season, winning Serie A Midfielder of the Year.
Playing in a variety of midfield roles, the 26-year-old showed off his box-to-box abilities, carrying the ball forward and arriving in the area, with his technical ability shining.
He scored 15 goals in all competitions, which was actually the most goals scored by a midfielder across Europe’s top-five leagues, sitting ahead of Scott McTominay.
In Serie A, he completed over 87 per cent of his passes throughout the campaign, proving he has an intricate side to his play too.
The Dutchman was also involved in a huge amount of build-up play for Milan, averaging 2.6 involvements in open-play chances per game, the joint-third most in the AC squad.
And when looking at City’s dominance on the ball during games and ability to pass the ball, move and link up through deep-lying defences, Reijnders should fit right in.
His career has been on an upward trajectory, but this switch to the Premier League could see him fulfil the prediction of Netherlands and Milan legend Frank Rijkaard.
Speaking in November after Milan had beaten Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League with Reijnders scoring, the icon spoke of his high hopes.
Rijkaard said to La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I hope that Reijnders becomes one of the best midfielders in the world…I sincerely believe he’s already on the right path.”
He added: “I really like his style of play. He can cover all roles in the midfield and shows his generosity: he never holds back from a run for the team and always gives his best.
“With the quality he has, he’s excellent at creating dangerous chances for his teammates and setting up the play well.”
So, Reijnders appears to be a jack of all trades, which should fit nicely into Guardiola’s system that will see Rodri welcomed back next campaign.
With Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic ageing, and De Bruyne gone, Man City are in need of a fresher face to join their midfield ranks.
Nico Gonzalez should feature more next season, but potentially as second fiddle to Rodri, with Reijnders slotting in further forward.
Man City may have lost a legend, but they will hope his replacement, who moulds his game around De Bruyne, can write his own story.
