Abdukodir Khusanov: Lens chief outlines transfer stance amid Man City, Tottenham interest

The 20-year-old is facing an uncertain future with the Ligue 1 outfit amid interest from several top clubs, with the player's agent recently admitting that his client is 'ready to play for the best clubs in Europe'.

A recent report claims that Man City are considering accelerating plans to sign Uzbekistan international Khusanov this month and have been keeping tabs on the youngster ever since he enjoyed his breakthrough season at senior level in the Belarusian top flight with Energetik-BGU.

The likes of Tottenham and Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest in the centre-back, who is under contract at Lens until June 2027.

Lens CEO Dreossi has since confirmed that Khusanov is expected to leave the club, but they are yet to receive any acceptable offers.

Man City, Spurs-linked Khusanov can leave Lens for the right price

Speaking to DAZN prior to Lens' 1-0 league defeat to Toulouse on Sunday, Dreossi said: 'Khusanov will leave, [but] there haven't been any good bids yet.

"There will be departures and arrivals. We will have more than enough quality players to qualify for Europe.

"If he is to leave and if the bids are interesting enough, above all, it's about finding an economic balance."

Multiple reports have claimed that interested suitors in Khusanov will need to pay between £20m and £25m to prise the defender away from Lens.

Khusanov is now represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, as confirmed by Lens sporting director Pedro Lopez, telling L'Equipe: "We've decided to do it (give the mandate to Mendes).

"We put all the options on the table. We analysed a lot and decided with Pierre (Dreossi) to sign a mandate. It came from an analysis of the internal market, the price of a transfer, and lots of other factors."

Who is Abdukodir Khusanov?

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Khusanov began his career with boyhood club Bunyodkor before moving to Belarusian outfit Energetik-BGU, where he made 35 senior appearance during the 2022-23 season.

Lens then snapped up the aggressive 6ft 1in defender for just €100,000 (£83,000) in the summer of 2023 and he made 11 Ligue 1 appearances as a peripheral figure in his debut campaign with the French club.

Khusanov has since developed into a first-team regular for Will Still's side, starting 11 of his 13 French top-flight games this season, and has played a key role in the heart of the Lens defence that has kept seven clean sheets.

As things stand, it remains unknown as to whether interested clubs such as Man City and Tottenham view Khusanov as someone who could be immediately integrated into their first-team plans for the remainder of this season.

Both the Citizens and Spurs have struggled with injury issues in the defensive department and are believed to been keen to reinforce their backlines in the January window.

Written by

Oliver Thomas