Turkish champions circling as City midfield reshuffle continues
Galatasaray have made Tijjani Reijnders their primary summer target, but are waiting for Manchester City to give the nod before opening formal talks.
The Süper Lig champions are monitoring the 27-year-old's situation closely, according to reports from Turkey. They have identified the Dutch international as the marquee signing they want to drive their summer business.
Reijnders joined City from AC Milan last summer in what was seen as one of the more eye-catching midfield additions of recent windows. His dynamic, box-to-box profile and technical quality in possession made him a natural fit for Enzo Maresca's system.
But the considerable restructuring underway at the Etihad — with director of football Hugo Viana continuing to reshape the squad around Maresca's specific requirements — has opened the door to speculation over a number of players whose long-term futures are yet to be formally clarified.
Galatasaray are among those seeking to capitalise on that uncertainty. The Istanbul club's board has drawn up an ambitious transfer strategy centred on securing an elite number eight profile capable of bridging the gap between their domestic dominance and European aspirations.
As reported by Fotomaç and relayed by Turkish Football, Galatasaray intend to initiate official negotiations the moment City indicate that Reijnders is available. No formal approach has been submitted yet — the story is one of identified intent rather than confirmed contact.
Reijnders commands a market valuation of approximately £42 million and remains under a long-term contract running until June 2030. That contractual situation hands City considerable leverage and limits Galatasaray's ability to drive down the asking price.
The Turkish champions plan to use the lure of guaranteed Champions League football and consistent starting minutes as their primary selling point. For a player who could face significant competition for a starting role depending on the direction of City's remaining recruitment, that platform may prove compelling.
Maresca is working through individual conversations with his squad this summer, with each player's role under his system set to determine who stays, who is loaned and who departs permanently. The manager's assessment of Reijnders will be decisive.
Whether those conversations produce a clear picture of his place in the new system — and whether that picture aligns with the player's own ambitions — will determine if Galatasaray's interest ever develops beyond monitoring into something more substantive.
For now, the initiative rests firmly with City and their manager.