Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lens to sign Abdukodir Khusanov for €40m (£33.5m) plus add-ons, with the centre-back set to be the first signing of the window as Pep Guardiola seeks to bolster his squad.
Having not trained with the Ligue 1 club on Friday, the 20-year-old is expected to officially become a City player imminently. When he does, the 6ft 1in Uzbekistan international will join up with Guardiola’s squad and immediately become part of his first-team plans.
The manager is intent on strengthening his rearguard options after injuries to John Stones, Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké during this campaign.
City are also considering testing Eintracht Frankfurt’s resolve to keep their highly rated forward Omar Marmoush with a formal bid. While Frankfurt’s official stance is that Marmoush is not for sale, it is understood the club, currently third in the Bundesliga, may countenance an offer above €60m (£50m) for the 25-year-old Egyptian, who has scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions this season.
Marmoush is a No 9, who can also operate wide or as a No 10, and would ease the goalscoring burden on Erling Haaland. City sold Julián Alvarez to Atlético Madrid for a club-record £81.5m in the summer but did not replace the forward.
City are also in discussions with Palmeiras regarding Vitor Reis, a defender who turns 19 on Sunday. They are expected to firm up their interest with a €40m (£33m) offer. Unlike Khusanov, the Brazil Under-17s centre-back may be a signing for the future.
When questioned on Friday about signings this month, Guardiola said: “Don’t ask me. I don’t like the transfer window much but with the situation this season – with many, many injuries – we have to try to do it.” On Marmoush specifically, he said: “He’s a player from another club. I’m not going to answer. I was clear.”
Ederson is available for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round visit of Salford City, while Oscar Bobb has also returned to contention following the leg fracture he suffered in training before the start of the season.
“Oscar is training already with the team – partial,” said Guardiola. “It’s not muscular, it was a bone and it’s already fixed. It’s good news that he’s back.”
Guardiola also stated that Kyle Walker has been left out of City’s team for the last four games due to form. “Maybe he isn’t playing the minutes like in the past,” he said. “Rico [Lewis] is playing really well, of course the central defenders, and Josko [Gvardiol, at left-back] is playing well. I decide for that.”
After Saturday’s 4-1 win over West Ham, the manager said City’s buildup play remains too fast in the absence of Rodri. Guardiola was asked if Kevin De Bruyne could operate as the No 6 and ensure City’s approach was more patient.
“No, he cannot play there. He cannot play there,” he replied. “Consistently defensively he’s not good enough.”
