Manchester City asked to pay £20m for 20-year-old Ligue 1 breakout star as Pep Guardiola seeks January reinforcements: Reports 

Manchester City have reportedly been asked to pay a £20 million fee for Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov. The 20-year-old centre-back, currently playing for RC Lens in Ligue 1, has been linked with the reigning Premier League champions as they look to strengthen their squad in January.

The Citizens have endured an injury-plagued season, with several defenders in particular frequently sidelined. Consequently, multiple reports suggest that Pep Guardiola is keen to rejuvenate his squad to address their struggles this season.

Khusanov has been one of the eye-catching talents in France this season, delivering consistent performances for both club and country. The 20-year-old made history as the first player from Uzbekistan to feature in Ligue 1 after joining RC Lens from Belarusian club Energetik-BGK in 2023.

He also became the first Uzbek player to compete in a UEFA competition, appearing in the Champions League last season.

According to Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Lens may be open to accepting a £20 million fee for the talented defender. Manchester City are reportedly eager to accelerate the deal, especially with several other clubs also expressing interest in the player.

While Khusanov is a key defensive target, City are also rumored to be exploring options to improve their midfield and attack. Atalanta’s Ederson and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush have been linked with potential moves to the Etihad Stadium in the January window.

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Pep Guardiola rules Manchester City out of the Premier League title race

After winning the Premier League title for four consecutive seasons, Manchester City have struggled to replicate their dominance this season. At the halfway stage, they find themselves in sixth place with just 31 points.

Liverpool and Arsenal have certainly outperformed City, as reflected in the standings. Liverpool are currently 14 points ahead, while Arsenal hold an eight-point advantage over the Cityzens.

As a result, Pep Guardiola has seemingly conceded that his team is out of the title race.

“Hopefully, the new year can help us bounce back. It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years. It is not the best. We are far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there’s already no chance of that but we have other things to fight for: FA Cup, top four, and winning games helps,” he said following Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Leicester City (via Premier League website)

The upcoming fixtures are critical for Manchester City’s hope of finishing in the top four. They play back-to-back home games, beginning with a Premier League clash against West Ham United on January 4, followed by an FA Cup tie against Salford City on January 11.