Manchester City are looking to address the shortcomings in their squad during the January transfer window as they begin to recover from their worst losing streak since 2006. The reigning Premier League champions are reportedly close to adding a new quality young player to their squad in Abdukodir Khusanov.
Manchester City Close to Sealing Abdukodir Khusanov Transfer
Khusanov Gives Approval For Big Move
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Cityzens are closing in on the signing of the 20-year-old centre-back from Ligue 1 side RC Lens. He adds that “Pep Guardiola has given his green light” for the deal and wants to add the young talent to his squad.
Read More: ‘Unstoppable’ Manchester United Sensation to Sign New Contract Despite ‘Top Clubs’ Interested
The journalist also states that Khusanov is the Premier League giants’ main centre-back target for the January window and that they are now on the final stages of negotiations with Lens before reaching total agreement. It’s also claimed that Khusanov has agreed personal terms with Guardiola’s side as he personally wants the move.
Romano has also revealed that Manchester City started working on this transfer before the end of 2024 itself, and that his ‘here we go’ to confirm the deal is coming soon. It has also been reported that the Premier League side will be paying a whopping £41.8 million fee to get this deal done.
What Can Khusanov Bring to Manchester City?
The 20-year-old defender has been impressive with his performances in Ligue 1 for Lens and has put in a string of impressive performances for them in the 2024/25 season; Khusanov has helped them keep seven clean sheets in 13 league games, something that likely caught the Cityzens’ attention.
Read More: Manchester United Scout Highly-Rated Premier League Keeper With ‘Potential Availability’
Khusanov also has 18 caps for the Uzbekistan national team at the age of 20 and is already a strong and intimidating defender. Lens head coach Will Still had big praise for him last year, stating: “He’s calm, powerful, he’s fast… He doesn’t talk but he’s good. When I arrived and it looked like Danso was leaving, Jean-Louis Leca [Lens’ sporting director] told me: ‘Don’t worry, Kodir is here and he’s ready.’ He wasn’t wrong. He has very, very impressive potential.”
The 20-year-old could be Manchester City’s first signing of the January window, and Guardiola will hope the highly-rated centre-back can help add more steel and assurance to his backline.
