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Rob Dawson, correspondent
Manchester City move closer to signing defender Abdukodir Khusanov after entering into an agreement with Lens for his transfer, sources told ESPN.
City are close to completing a deal worth more than £40 million for the 20-year-old. Uzbekistan central defender.
His representatives are in Manchester to discuss final details and a medical could take place this weekend before an official announcement.
If all goes well, Khusanov will become City’s first signing for the January transfer window.
Khusanov should immediately join Pep Guardiola’s first team to make up for the loss of Ruben Dias And John Stones to an injury.
Guardiola is lacking central defenders this season Manuel Akanji And Nathan Aké both having spells on the sidelines.
Lens expected to benefit remarkably from Khusanov’s transfer to the club Premier League. The defender joined the League 1 Energetik-BGU club in the Belarusian top flight in July 2023 in a contract worth around €100,000 and is now set for a big-money move to City after playing just 31 games for the French club.
Sources have told ESPN that Lens wanted to keep the defender for another six months, but had to agree a deal to balance their books after missing out on more than €40 million in transfer fees last summer when transferring from Kevin Danso And Neil El Aynaoui collapsed. Sources said the club had asked super agent Jorge Mendes to find the much-admired Khusanov a new club this month.
Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN that City remain interested in 18-year-old Brazilian defender Vitor Reis. Contacts have been made with his club, Palmeiras, although they would like the youngster to stay with them until the summer.
Eintracht Frankfurt Before Omar Marmouch also remains a goal for January. The 25-year-old is valued at around £50million and has scored 13 goals in 15 Bundesliga matches this season. City have yet to make a formal offer for the Egypt international but Frankfurt expects it to arrive before the deadline.