Manchester City is nearing an agreement to sign 20-year-old defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens. The club identified Khusanov as a target due to their ongoing injury crisis at the back. City are also pursuing Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis, but a deal for Reis may have to wait until after their participation in the Club World Cup. Both Khusanov and Reis are expected to challenge for a starting place in the first team squad.
City have admired the 20-year-old centre-back for some time and, as the Manchester Evening News reported last week, opted to bring forward plans to sign him amid their injury crisis. Khusanov sat out of training with Lens on Friday through illness, but it is expected that an agreement with all parties is close that will see the defender become the first signing for the Blues this month.
Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis is also a target, although the Brazilian club are keen to keep hold of the 18-year-old until after their participation in the Club World Cup this summer. If City do get a deal for Reis over the line as well in January, it is expected that he and Khusanov will stay with the first team squad to challenge for a starting place even if their greater value will be in the future.
City are also pursuing Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, but it is at the back where they have struggled since October that led to such an alarming run of just one win in 13 games in all competitions. John Stones and Ruben Dias are yet to return from the latest injuries they picked up in December, with Pep Guardiola unable to provide a timeframe in Friday's press conference, while Manu Akanji, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake have also missed chunks of the season as well.
Teenage defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey could start against Salford in the FA Cup on Saturday after being left out of the firing line following a tough start to his senior career, but in the meantime Txiki Begiristain and his team are looking to add more young centre-backs to the squad.
Manchester City Transfer Khusanov Lens Defender
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