Juventus Pursues Reijnders Amid Kessié Negotiation Stalemate

Juventus have opened a channel to Manchester City for Tijjani Reijnders, moving quickly to line up an alternative as their pursuit of Franck Kessié drags on without a final agreement.

According to reports in Italy, the Turin club have held initial, exploratory discussions on two fronts: with Reijnders’ entourage, to understand how open the Dutch midfielder is to a move to Serie A, and with City, to test the waters over a possible loan. At this stage there is no formal negotiation on the table, but the conversation is alive and expected to continue in the coming days.

Reijnders, who joined City only last summer for around €55m after his spell at Milan, started brightly in England. The early impression was of a midfielder built for Pep Guardiola’s system: clean on the ball, able to dictate tempo, and comfortable between the lines. Yet a year on, he is already reported to have slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad, opening a window that Juventus are keen to explore.

Reijnders pushed forward as Kessié waits

The interest in Reijnders underlines Juventus’s determination to reshape a midfield that Luciano Spalletti views as central to his project. He wants more legs, more personality, more control. Reijnders, with his Serie A experience and tactical flexibility, ticks several of those boxes and carries the added bonus of already knowing the rhythms of Italian football.

His name has moved up the list partly because the Kessié operation has stalled. The former Milan powerhouse, a free agent since 30 June, has been edging closer to an agreement with Juventus in recent days. The framework is there, but not the final green light. Kessié, for his part, does not intend to wait forever and has made it clear he wants clarity on his future as soon as possible.

That stance has sharpened Juventus’s need to keep other options warm. Reijnders is one of those options. If Kessié turns elsewhere, the Bianconeri do not want to be left scrambling in the final weeks of the window.

A crowded midfield and tough decisions ahead

There is a problem, and it sits in the middle of the pitch. Juventus currently count eight midfielders in the squad. Any new arrival, whether Kessié, Reijnders or another target, will require at least one departure and probably more.

The hierarchy in Turin knows it. Spalletti knows it. Before Juventus can officially move for Reijnders or close the circle with Kessié, they must clear space, both in the dressing room and on the wage bill.

For now, the message is clear: talks with City are exploratory, not decisive. But Juventus have opened the door. If Kessié’s patience runs out and Reijnders remains on the margins in Manchester, that door could become a fast track back to Serie A.