- 5 hours ago
Man City close to RECORD transfer, club confirms
Robin Bairner
- 10 Jan 2025 13:45 GMT
- 3 min read
Abdukodir Khusanov’s transfer to Manchester City is “in progress” according to Lens head coach Will Still, who has broken the club’s silence of the potential blockbuster deal.
Khusanov has been with Lens since completing a deal worth just €100,000 from Energetik-BGU Minsk in the summer of 2023 and now 18 months on stands to become the club’s biggest transfer sale ever around the €50 million mark – 500 times what the Stade Bollaert outfit spent on him.
The centre-back has proven a classy performer in Ligue 1 but Lens judged that this January was the correct time to sell and made themselves open to a sale.
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STATS
Abdukodir Khusanov
D (CR)
Lens
Abdukodir Khusanov
D (CR)
Lens
Man City are poised to oblige, with a move for the 20-year-old Uzbekistan international “very advanced” according to Fabrizio Romano.
Khusanov was not present at Lens training on Friday as the team prepared for a Ligue 1 encounter against Le Havre on Sunday, heightening rumours in France that he is closing out his move to City.
Head coach Will Still admitted that there are talks but claimed that Khusanov’s absence was not driven by any transfer dealings.
“He’s sick,” Still told the media. “He was in the gym today with other.
“But we’re not going to lie to each other. We know that there are negotiations in progress, that things are moving. We’re not fooled.
“For the moment, he’s still here, and if things are to move, you’ll probably know about them before me.
“He went home because he’s really sick. If he’s available, he’ll be in the squad against Le Havre.”
Khusanov’s breakthrough year
Khusanov has only held down a starting position at Lens this season, having spent his time at the club initially on the bench.
His performances, however, have won him a regular starting spot in Will Still’s side, with the only games he has failed to begin since September three fixtures in which he was banned for.
Should he complete his €50m move to Manchester City, it will be one of the transfer stories of the season.
