No chance of a bargain
Newcastle United have been told the asking price for Tijjani Reijnders. The message, essentially, is that there isn't one. Manchester City are not interested in selling the Dutch midfielder unless an extraordinary offer lands at the Etihad — the kind of bid that makes you reconsider everything.
Reijnders joined City from AC Milan last summer and turns 28 next week. In his debut Premier League campaign he contributed five goals and two assists across 26 appearances. Not headline numbers, perhaps, but the club value what he does beyond the stats sheet.
According to a new report, director of football Hugo Viana and newly-appointed manager Enzo Maresca both regard Reijnders as central to their plans. That assessment has been reinforced by the departures of Mateo Kovacic and other fringe midfield figures, which have already thinned the options available to Maresca.
Newcastle's interest
Newcastle have registered interest in Reijnders, part of a summer recruitment drive that has already seen them beat City to the signing of Sandro Tonali. The Magpies may fancy their chances again, but the asking price is likely to give them pause.
City are looking to strengthen their midfield this summer, not weaken it. The £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest has been accompanied by active pursuit of further additions. Letting Reijnders go would run counter to that logic.
Reijnders offers a particular combination of technical quality, physical intensity and tactical intelligence that has made him genuinely difficult to replicate in the market.
O'Rourke's suggestion that Reijnders would not be right at the top of the list of Newcastle's summer reinforcements is perhaps the most pragmatic takeaway from the report. The Magpies have other priorities. City have no intention of making this an easy one.