The defender’s agent has confirmed Tottenham showed interest, but only Newcastle held concrete talks before Manchester City secured his signing.
Tottenham Hotspur previously registered a keen interest in highly rated defender Abdukodir Khusanov prior to his high-profile switch to Manchester City in January 2025. The Uzbekistan international center back ultimately completed a move to the Etihad Stadium from French club RC Lens, but his representative has now lifted the lid on the true extent of the historical interest from North London.
According to a transfer update shared by Spurs Insight on X via SportExpress, the player’s agent, Gairat Khasbiullin, verified that while Tottenham monitored the young center back, they failed to make a serious push.
Khasbiullin clarified that Tottenham were far from the only Premier League club watching the player, but their pursuit remained purely conversational. The agent explicitly confirmed that only Newcastle United held concrete talks with the player’s camp before the reigning champions stepped in to wrap up the deal. Tottenham’s internal interest never progressed further than initial scouting inquiries, leaving the club to look elsewhere to bolster their backline.
Embedded Success at the Etihad
Missing out on the €50m Khusanov has proved to be a significant oversight for the North London side’s recruitment team. Since arriving in England, the defender has adapted seamlessly to the immense demands of the Premier League, establishing himself as a reliable asset under the tactical setups at Manchester City. His second season culminated in both FA Cup and EFL Cup honors, justifying the heavy tracking he received from elite teams across Europe.
🚨📰 Abdukodir Khusanov’s agent, Gairat Khasbiullin, has confirmed Tottenham showed interest in the defender before his move to Man City in January 2025
He also added only Newcastle held concrete talks, with Spurs’ interest never progressing further@sportexpress | #COYS #THFC pic.twitter.com/2HkygLY2Pe
— Spurs Insight (@SpursInsight_) July 12, 2026
While Newcastle United generated a fantastic rapport during their substantive negotiations, the lure of playing under elite coaching ultimately took Khusanov to Manchester. Tottenham’s decision not to advance past basic interest means they missed the chance to sign the first Uzbek player in Premier League history, a player who continues to see his valuation soar on the European stage.