Will Still (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
RC Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov is on the verge of joining Manchester City, with negotiations reportedly nearing completion for a deal worth up to €50 million.
Will Still, manager of RC Lens, has acknowledged the likelihood of Abdukodir Khusanov leaving the club for Manchester City. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Lens’ Ligue 1 clash with Le Havre, Still addressed the 20-year-old Uzbek centre-back’s absence from training, attributing it to illness but openly admitting that transfer talks are advancing.
“We’re not going to lie to ourselves. We know that negotiations are underway and that things are moving. There’s wind in his sails. We’re not fooled,” Still told reporters, as quoted by L’Équipe.
The manager added humorously, “He’s still here, he’s a Lens player. If anything happens, you’ll probably be the first to know. It’s a joke. With social networks, the big journalists know everything before anyone else.”
Still confirmed that Khusanov remains part of the squad and could feature against Le Havre if available.
Reports from RMC Sport and Foot Mercato indicate that Lens could receive a club-record fee of €50 million, including bonuses, for Khusanov’s transfer to Manchester City. The 20-year-old, who has already agreed to personal terms with the Premier League champions, would join as part of City’s long-term planning to bolster their defensive depth.
Khusanov’s move aligns with Manchester City’s ongoing transfer activity, with the club also pursuing Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.