Arsenal in shock race to sign £45m Man City star Pep calls ‘special’

Arsenal are eyeing a move for Tijjani Reijnders this summer, just 12 months after he joined Manchester City in a £45m deal.

Arsenal join the race for Reijnders

Life is good in the Emirates. Arsenal have gone from a nervous side to a side looking to win the Champions League and Premier League double. Their domestic fate is back in their hands with three games to play, courtesy of David Moyes and Everton, while Budapest await their match against Paris Saint-Germain.

On the map, history stings. Action aside, the Gunners are perhaps in the best position to land some impressive signings in the summer transfer window.

If Andrea Berta’s feud with former teammate Diego Simeone was anything to go by, the sporting director means business ahead of the summer and could make a shocking move.

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are keeping a close eye in the race to sign Reijnders, who may call for a one-year break from joining Man City after falling down the pecking order.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time Arsenal have used out-of-favour City stars. They have previously welcomed both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko with mixed success, and could make Reijnders the next player to skip the club.

Whether Pep Guardiola punishes such exits remains to be seen, however. The Man City coach has been praising the player since his arrival, telling reporters ahead of his season: “Yes, we knew that he is a special player who comes to the box.

“He loves to do that, Italians know him well [after his time at AC Milan]. He scored two goals and did a great job like his teammates.”

“Special” Reijnders can solve the problem of Arsenal Zubimendi

On paper, it may appear that Man City have nothing to lose except their midfield depth, but that depth can quickly make a difference. Arsenal have struggled without him at times and recently turned to a solution in Myles Lewis-Skelly to replace the broken Martin Zubimendi.

Reijnders represents a target that can solve that Zubimendi problem once and for all. The Dutchman, at this stage of the campaign, will be a valuable option to turn to.

Arsenal’s biggest problem is in open play this season and that can start in midfield. As a defensive wing, Declan Rice and Zubimendi are arguably the best in the league. Going forward, however, Zubimendi doesn’t talk much. Reijnders can change that.

The Man City star is like an attacking midfielder in the way he hits the penalty spot, scoring almost twice as many goals per game as Zubimendi. If he is, Arsenal should waste little time before they start making moves this summer.

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