Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lens to sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
A deal worth €40million plus bonuses is in place between the clubs, with the 20-year-old poised to join City on a four-and-a-half year contract that includes an option to extend by 12 months.
Khusanov was identified as the top target to strengthen manager Pep Guardiola’s rearguard and they are advancing towards sealing a move for the Uzbekistan international centre-back.
The Premier League champions have also opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to recruit striker Omar Marmoush, 25, from the German side.
A deal has not yet been struck but there are good relations between the teams and a willingness to explore finding a compromise, which would take the Egypt international to the Etihad Stadium.
The Athletic reported on January 8 that City were working on a deal to sign the Khusanov and were also exploring a deal for Marmoush this month.
The Uzbekistan international, who has been capped 18 times, joined Lens in 2023 from Belarussian club Energetik-BGU Minsk and has made 31 appearances for the French club, including two substitute appearances in the Champions League group stage in 2023-24.
Khusanov has this season established himself as a mainstay in the French side’s starting XI, missing just two of Lens’ 18 Ligue 1 games because of a two-game suspension due to a red card in November.
Pep Guardiola’s side have Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and John Stones among their current options at centre-back.
City, who are sixth in the Premier League, are next in action against Salford City in the FA Cup on January 11.
(ANP via Getty Images)
