Although Reijnders only joined City last year, uncertainty remains over whether he will still be at the Etihad Stadium when the new campaign gets underway. Maresca has stopped short of ruling out a departure, instead insisting his focus remains on the players currently available to him.
The latest development
Reijnders’ future has become one of the more intriguing storylines of City’s summer after reports linked him with a possible move away from Manchester.
Nottingham Forest are understood to be among the clubs monitoring the midfielder’s situation, with suggestions they are prepared to make a significant investment to bring him to the City Ground. Turkish champions Galatasaray have also been credited with an interest as they continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
City have reportedly not closed the door on a potential sale, with Forest said to be considering an offer worth around £55 million. Such a deal would represent a profit on the fee City paid to sign the Dutch international from AC Milan just 12 months ago.
Speaking during City’s pre-season tour, Maresca was asked directly whether he wanted Reijnders to remain at the club beyond the transfer deadline.
Rather than offering a firm guarantee, the City head coach praised the midfielder’s professionalism and current performances.
Maresca explained that as long as a player remains part of his squad, his responsibility is to help them perform at their best. He added that Reijnders has trained well since returning from his summer break and that he has been pleased with what he has seen.
While those comments underline the manager’s appreciation of the player, they also leave the door open for movement before the window shuts.
Reijnders facing a difficult battle
Reijnders arrived at City with plenty of expectation following impressive displays in Serie A with AC Milan. However, breaking into one of Europe’s strongest midfields has proved far from straightforward.
Despite showing flashes of his quality, the Dutchman has struggled to establish himself as an automatic starter.
Competition for places remains fierce, and reports suggest City’s preferred midfield pairing for the upcoming season could feature Rodri alongside Anderson. That would leave Reijnders once again competing for limited opportunities in one of the most competitive squads in world football.
For a player entering an important stage of his career, regular football could become a decisive factor.
That is one reason why Nottingham Forest’s reported interest may appeal. A move would likely offer Reijnders a far more prominent role, with the midfielder expected to become a central figure in Oliver Glasner’s plans should a transfer materialise.
Previous interest this summer
Forest are not the first club to be linked with Reijnders during this transfer window.
Atletico Madrid were previously credited with an interest in signing the Dutch international. However, those reports faded after City’s valuation reportedly proved too high, with the Spanish club instead pursuing alternative midfield options.
It is now claimed City could be willing to negotiate at a figure slightly below their initial asking price, although any deal would still allow the Premier League champions to make a profit on their original investment.
That financial position gives City flexibility should they decide Reijnders is not guaranteed significant minutes this season.
Why Forest could afford the deal
Nottingham Forest appear well placed financially to pursue ambitious targets this summer.
The club have reportedly generated substantial funds through player sales, giving them room to strengthen multiple areas of the squad ahead of the new campaign.
Following Oliver Glasner’s appointment as manager after the departure of Vitor Pereira, Forest have been heavily linked with several high-profile additions as they aim to improve on last season’s performances.
Reijnders is believed to be among their priority midfield targets, while reports have also connected Forest with Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande.
Whether Forest are prepared to meet City’s valuation remains to be seen, but the financial resources appear to be available should negotiations progress.
What this means for City
City’s stance over the coming weeks will likely depend on both Reijnders’ own wishes and the level of interest that develops.
Maresca’s comments suggest there is no immediate urgency to sell, but equally they do not indicate that the midfielder is considered untouchable.
Should a suitable offer arrive, City would have the opportunity to recoup their investment while generating a profit after just one season. That money could potentially be reinvested elsewhere in the squad before the transfer window closes.
From a sporting perspective, losing Reijnders would reduce City’s midfield depth, particularly across a demanding campaign involving domestic and European competitions. However, if the Dutch international believes regular football is more achievable elsewhere, all parties may eventually see a transfer as the best solution.
For now, Reijnders remains a Manchester City player and continues to feature in Maresca’s plans during pre-season. Whether that remains the case by the end of August is a question that is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
