Manchester City will compete with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United to sign 20-year-old Uzbeki defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Ligue 1 club RC Lens.
According to a report by French outlet L’Equipe, Abdukodir Khusanov is the subject of interest from Manchester City. The Premier League champions are scouring the market for a centre-back ahead of the two transfer windows next year. Meanwhile, the RC Lens defender is also a target for Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, with the Ligue 1 club demanding €25-30 million to part ways with him.
The rapid rise of Abdukodir Khusanov
Abdukodir Khusanov has been one of the best young defenders in Ligue 1 since joining RC Lens from Energetik-BGU in July 2023. A native of Tashkent, the youngster spent most of his formative years thus far in his homeland and graduated from the youth division at FC Bunyodkor.
The 20-year-old has been a regular for RC Lens thus far this term, amassing over 1,000 minutes of game time across 15 appearances in all competitions. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress at the Ligue 1 club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing him, with Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City vying for his signature.
A man in demand
Newcastle United will dip into the market for a new centre-back in the January transfer window after failing to sign two defenders this past summer. So, the Uzbekistan international has emerged as a viable target for the Tyneside outfit. While Newcastle United might face PSR issues, they should have the funds to meet RC Lens’s asking price of €25-30 million.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Abdukodir Khusanov is understandable. Ange Postecoglou wants to complete his squad’s central defensive arsenal. With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven struggling with fitness issues this season, Radu Dragusin is the only recognised centre-back fit.
As for Manchester City, the Premier League champions might reshuffle the central defensive unit next year amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Ruben Dias. So, several candidates, including Jarrad Branthwaite, have emerged on Manchester City’s radar. However, Khusanov is also a viable long-term target for the Citizens.
Manchester City and Tottenham have the economic viability to afford a deal worth €25-30 million to sign the RC Lens defender. It will be interesting to see if the 20-year-old Uzbeki defender’s spell in Ligue 1 ends next year.