Manchester City on the Verge of Signing Lens Defender Abdukodir Khusanov

11 Jan 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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Manchester City are enduring a tough season, finding themselves in an uncharacteristic sixth place in the Premier League after 20 games. The campaign has been marred by injuries to key players like Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Kevin De Bruyne, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side struggling to hit their usual heights. However, reinforcements are on the way, with City making a bold move in the winter transfer window. Their first major signing? Lens' highly-rated defender, Abdukodir Khusanov.

Abdukodir Khusanov’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable. The 20-year-old has turned heads across Europe with his standout performances in Ligue 1, cementing himself as one of the league’s top defensive talents despite his young age. What makes his journey even more captivating is his background—Khusanov hails from humble beginnings in Uzbekistan, a nation not typically associated with producing elite footballing talent.

Now, the talented defender is on the verge of making history. His imminent move to Manchester City will not only make him the first Uzbek to play for the Cityzens but also the first from his country to grace the Premier League stage. The transfer is in its final stages, with only a few formalities and the medical left to complete. Even the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano has given his trademark "Here We Go" confirmation on the deal. Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:"Abdukodir Khusanov to Man City, here we go! Deal in place for €40m fixed fee plus add-ons. RC Lens accept proposal and approve medical tests to take place next days. Contract until June 2029 plus option for further season."

Lens are poised to make an extraordinary profit from Abdukodir Khusanov’s impending move to the Premier League. The talented defender joined the Ligue 1 side just 18 months ago from Energetik-BGU, a Belarusian top-flight club, for a modest fee of around €100,000. Now, after just 31 appearances for Lens, Khusanov is set for a lucrative switch to Manchester City. According to sources familiar with the deal, Lens initially hoped to retain Khusanov for at least another six months. However, financial realities forced their hand. The club needed to address budgetary shortfalls after missing out on over €40 million in transfer revenue last summer when expected moves for Kevin Danso and Neil El Aynaoui fell through.

Khusanov is now set to join Manchester City’s first-team squad, and with Pep Guardiola grappling with a defensive injury crisis—most notably to Ruben Dias and John Stones—many fans anticipate that the young Uzbek talent could be thrown straight into action. Khusanov’s arrival couldn’t come at a better time, as the Cityzens look to steady the ship and stage a turnaround in what has been a challenging season. The move provides Guardiola with much-needed reinforcements and fresh energy in defense, potentially paving the way for the Catalan manager to navigate City back to their usual high standards. However, the club isn’t done just yet in the transfer market. Talks are ongoing for two more signings: Eintracht Frankfurt’s versatile forward Omar Marmoush and Palmeiras’ highly-rated 18-year-old defender Vitor Reis.

City’s activity in this window signals a clear intent to strengthen across the board as they aim to recover their form and maintain their competitive edge. Fans will be eager to see how these new arrivals integrate and contribute to City’s push for success in the second half of the season.