Juventus Eye Reijnders as Kessié Talks Stall
Juventus have opened a channel to Manchester City for Tijjani Reijnders, moving quickly to line up an alternative as their pursuit of free agent Franck Kessié drags on.
According to reports in Italy, the Turin club have held early, exploratory conversations on two fronts: with Reijnders’ camp, to understand how keen the Dutch midfielder would be on the move, and with City, to test the waters over a possible loan deal. No formal negotiations are on the table yet, but the dialogue is alive and expected to continue.
A new face for a crowded midfield
The interest in Reijnders fits a clear plan in Turin. Luciano Spalletti wants fresh legs and fresh ideas in the middle of the pitch, and the Netherlands international ticks several boxes: technically clean, tactically flexible, and already proven in Serie A from his time at Milan.
City paid around €55m to bring him to the Etihad only a year ago after an impressive spell in Italy. He started brightly in England, but has reportedly slipped down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola’s squad, opening a narrow window of opportunity for Juventus to exploit.
That window exists partly because the Kessié operation has stalled.
Kessié grows impatient
Kessié, another former Milan midfielder, has been a free agent since 30 June and has moved closer to an agreement with Juventus in recent days. The outlines of a deal are there, but not signed, and the Ivorian is not prepared to sit and wait indefinitely.
He wants clarity, and soon. Juventus know it. The longer the final details drag on, the more urgent it becomes to have a credible Plan B ready to go. Reijnders is that name.
One in, one out?
There is a catch. Juventus are already overloaded in midfield, with eight players currently jostling for minutes. Any new arrival would almost certainly require at least one departure, and possibly more, before the club can move decisively.
That congestion explains the cautious approach: exploratory calls, not yet a full-blown negotiation. Juventus are positioning themselves, testing City’s openness to a loan and gauging Reijnders’ appetite for a return to Italy.
The pieces are moving, slowly for now. Whether the next midfielder to walk through the doors in Turin is Kessié on a free or Reijnders on loan may come down to who blinks first in a packed and restless Juventus engine room.
