Manchester City are considering a move for Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.
The 20-year-old Uzbek international is also admired by Tottenham and Newcastle.
The 2004-born star has already capped his country 18 times as he emerges as yet another bright central defensive prospect to flourish in the French top flight.
Any pursuit from the Premier League could see Lens make a healthy profit on the player they originally signed for a fee of £100,000 in 2023.
Khusanov was brought to Ligue 1 by Belarusian side Energetik-BGU, who had only brought the defender to Europe in 2022.
In 13 league matches this season, the Uzbek international has kept an impressive seven clean sheets, although he also picked up a straight red card to be sidelined after a 3-1 defeat to Marseille.
After just 16 minutes in the first two outings of the campaign, Khusanov has become one of Lens' most feature regulars.
Apart from the 59th-minute red card – and resulting suspension – which he picked up against PSG in a 1-0 defeat in November, he has played every minute in the competition since matchweek three.
Pep Guardiola's side currently have Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones, although injuries have regularly seen the champions struggle to name their ideal starting pair.
With City in desperate form that has dropped them out of the title race and even out of the top four, Guardiola has previously hinted that his side could strengthen in the January window.
“We need help in some positions,” the Spanish manager told Match of the Day ahead of the market opening.
“When we are all together we are the team we were, but when key players are away for weeks and months it is so difficult.
'I thought centre-backs would be fit all season, but we have struggled. We need help with midfield and central defenders.
“The market is the market, not easy and expensive, so we will see what the club can do.”
Comments