With the January transfer window well underway, Manchester City they unsurprisingly wasted no time before turning their attention to some much needed reinforcements for Pep Guardiola.
Man City transfer news
He was sitting outside Premier LeagueTop four and heading into 2025 on the back of their second win in 13 games in all competitions thanks to a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, the Citizens are enduring their worst ever campaign under Guardiola. They have been hit from all sides, with an aging squad catching up to them and the injury toll higher than at any time in the last nine years.
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For the first time in what seems like forever, Manchester City are desperate for reinforcements to turn their season around once and for all. Signing a replacement for the injured Rodri will undoubtedly be at the top of their priority list, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi already threatening to steal the headlines as a result, but Guardiola needs more than one reinforcement this month.
It only takes one look at the Spaniard’s defensive options to realize just how much Manchester City could do with an overhaul. Kyle Walker is 34 and has shown signs he could be past his prime, John Stones remains injury prone and is also now in his 30s, and the same can be said for Nathan Ake this time next year.
So one particular transfer rumor should come as no surprise. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have now joined the race to sign Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens in the January transfer window.
Competing with a number of other top clubs, Guardiola and Manchester City will be hoping to convince the young centre-back, the highly regarded 25 million poundsand begin a much-needed renovation in the process.
An “excellent” Khusanov would ease Man City’s defensive problem
While Khusanov is unlikely to come straight into Guardiola’s starting side if the likes of Stones and Ake pass fit, recent injury problems open up an opportunity for the young defender to make an immediate impact if he completes the move in January. At just 20 years old, he would certainly solve City’s aging backline problem in a deal aimed at a future star who could play a role for years to come.
Khusanov has already earned many admirers during his still young career, including Football talent scout Jacek Kuligwho described the Lens star late last year as an “excellent” central defender and a “future legend of Uzbek football”.
City have had no problems convincing players in the past and could now use that strength again to win the race for Khusanov’s signature this month.
