Man City agree £33.6m deal for Lens defender Khusanov

Manchester City person agreed a 40m euros (£33.6m) woody with Lens for cardinal defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Sources with cognition of the woody accidental determination are further bonus payments attached to the sale, with the subordinate owed to acquisition a aesculapian earlier the transportation is officially confirmed.

City manager Pep Guardiola has been determined to fortify his squad aft a hard mates of months which has seen the defending Premier League champions gaffe to sixth successful the array - and 12 points down leaders Liverpool.

The nine are besides successful negotiations with Brazilian broadside Palmeiras for teenage defender Vitor Reis, though the club's president has been quoted arsenic saying reports they are keen to currency successful connected the 18-year-old are "not correct".

In addition, City are keen connected Egypt guardant Omar Marmoush pursuing the 25-year-old's awesome displays for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.

Khusanov volition go the archetypal Uzbekistan subordinate to articulation a Premier League nine erstwhile his determination is completed. He volition besides beryllium City's archetypal important January signing since the accomplishment of Aymeric Laporte successful 2018.

It underlines Guardiola's determination to reverse City's fortunes and code a chronic wounded concern that has near him without a succession of defenders during the archetypal fractional of the campaign.

Ruben Dias has not featured since the derby decision by Manchester United connected 15 December and has been ruled retired of Saturday's FA Cup third-round necktie with League Two broadside Salford City.

England's John Stones volition besides miss the game, portion Nathan Ake has doubly been ruled retired for extended periods due to the fact that of wounded already this season.

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

However, helium has developed rapidly and made 13 appearances successful Ligue 1 truthful acold this play and has 18 caps for Uzbekistan.

Khusanov scored his archetypal extremity for the nine connected his astir caller appearance, a French Cup necktie with Paris St-Germain connected 22 December.

City person besides been handed invited quality with the instrumentality to grooming of Oscar Bobb aft the 21-year-old Norwegian's five-month lack with a fractured leg.