One Season, One Move: Reijnders' City Career Hangs in the Balance

Tijjani Reijnders' time at the Etihad could be over before it ever really got going. Barely a year after arriving in Manchester, the Dutch midfielder is reportedly the subject of serious interest from Nottingham Forest, with the Tricky Trees ready to test City's resolve with an eye-watering offer.

According to Calciomercato, Forest are in active talks with the Blues over a deal that would see the 28-year-old head to the City Ground. The proposed fee? A hefty £55m.

It would be quite the turnaround for Reijnders, who arrived last summer in a £46.5m move after two impressive seasons at the San Siro. He signed a five-year contract, the kind of commitment that suggests a long-term plan. Instead, he could be gone after just 12 months.

The early signs were good. Reijnders enjoyed a promising start to life in the Premier League, looking every bit the midfielder City thought they were getting. But over the course of the 2025/26 campaign, he fell out of favour with Pep Guardiola, and his opportunities became increasingly sporadic.

Even though the Spaniard left the club at the end of last season, the former Milan ace looks destined to sever ties with the 10-time English champions.

Forest's Ambition and a Sell-On Clause

Forest, who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last term, have no intention of enduring another nightmare season. This is a club looking to make a statement, and a £55m bid for a player of Reijnders' pedigree would be exactly that. They face competition from several Serie A sides, including Juventus, who had been keen to bring him back to Italy. Yet Forest could beat them all to the punch.

For Reijnders, the move might make sense. After tumbling down the pecking order in Manchester, a fresh start at a club that clearly wants him could be appealing.

And then there's Milan, watching from afar with a satisfied smile. If Oliver Glasner's men pull off this high-profile transfer, the Rossoneri will receive roughly €14m thanks to a sell-on clause included in the deal that took Reijnders to City. It's a handsome financial boost for a club trying to reinforce their squad amid Rafael Leao's uncertain future at the San Siro.

Not bad for a player who left a year ago.