Man City agree £33.6m deal for Lens defender Khusanov

Abdukodir Khusanov’s 40 million euros (£33.6 million) contract with Lens has been finalized by Manchester City.

According to sources familiar with the deal, the player will have to go through a medical before the transfer is finalized, and there are additional bonus payments attached to it.

After struggling for two months, defending Premier League champions Liverpool have fallen to sixth place in the table, 12 points behind.

Although the club’s president has been quoted as saying that reports that they are interested in buying the 18-year-old are “uncorrect,” the club is also in talks with Brazilian side Palmeiras for teenage defender Vitor Reis.

In addition, City are keen on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush following the 25-year-old’s impressive displays for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.

Once his move is complete, Khusanov will become the first Uzbeks player to join a Premier League team. He will also be Aymeric Laporte’s first significant signing for January so far, City.

It demonstrates Guardiola’s resolve to reverse City’s fortunes and address a chronic injury that has left him without a number of defenders in the first half of the campaign.

Ruben Dias has been ruled out of Saturday’s FA Cup third-round match against League Two side Salford City because he hasn’t played since Manchester United’s defeat on December 15.

Nathan Ake has already been ruled out for extended periods of time due to injury this season, while England’s John Stones will also miss the game.

Lens only paid 100, 000 euros (£84, 000) for Khusanov from Belarusian club Energetik-BGU 18 months ago.

However, he has developed rapidly and made 13 appearances in Ligue 1 so far this season and has 18 caps for Uzbekistan.

Khusanov scored his first goal for the club on his most recent appearance, a French Cup tie with Paris St-Germain on 22 December.