Juventus Pursues Tijjani Reijnders Amid Kessié Negotiation Delays

Juventus have opened a new front in their midfield rebuild, sounding out Manchester City over a possible move for Tijjani Reijnders as negotiations for free agent Franck Kessié drag on without a final green light.

According to reports in Italy, the Turin club have made what are being described as exploratory contacts on two fronts: with Reijnders’ camp to understand the Dutch midfielder’s openness to a switch, and with City to test the waters over a potential loan. No formal negotiations are on the table yet, but the conversation has started – and Juventus intend to keep it going.

Reijnders Steps Into the Frame

The interest in Reijnders underlines how determined Juventus are to refresh a midfield that Luciano Spalletti wants sharper, more dynamic and less predictable.

Reijnders, a Netherlands international and another former Milan player, joined Manchester City only a year ago in a deal worth around €55m. He arrived in England with momentum and quickly impressed at the Etihad. Now, just one season on, he is reported to have slipped down the pecking order, opening a narrow window that Juventus are keen to peer through.

The profile fits: technically clean, able to operate between the lines, comfortable in possession and with Serie A experience already banked from his Milan spell. For Juventus, he represents a ready-made option who would not need a long adaptation period.

And his candidacy has accelerated for one simple reason: the Kessié operation is stuck in neutral.

Kessié Grows Impatient

Kessié, a free agent since 30 June, has been edging closer to an agreement with Juventus in recent days. The groundwork is there, the mutual interest is clear, but not the decisive signature.

The Ivorian has made it known he does not intend to wait forever. He wants clarity, and he wants it quickly. While Juventus juggle squad numbers and financial parameters, Kessié’s camp is pushing for a resolution rather than an open-ended courtship.

That uncertainty has pushed the club to widen their options. Reijnders is not a like-for-like replacement in style, but he is a concrete alternative in terms of status and impact – a player capable of walking straight into Spalletti’s rotation.

A Midfield Packed, and Yet Not Complete

There is, however, a hard reality Juventus must confront: the midfield is already crowded. Eight players are currently vying for minutes in the central areas, a congestion that leaves little room for new arrivals without first clearing space.

At least one departure, and probably more, will be required before any deal – for Kessié, Reijnders or anyone else – can be finalised. That bottleneck is shaping the timing of every move. Juventus can talk, plan and probe, but they cannot complete until others are moved on.

So the club walks a tightrope. On one side, Kessié waiting, but not forever. On the other, Reijnders, under contract at Manchester City, potentially available on loan if the English champions agree.

Juventus have opened the door to both paths. The next few weeks will reveal which one they are truly able to walk through.