Manchester City submit €50 million opening offer for centre-back target as deal edges closer to completion | OneFootball

An opening offer for Lens and Uzbekistan centre-back, Abdukodir Khusanov has now been lodged by Manchester City as a deal moves closer to completion.

The Premier League champions are beginning work at the earliest opportunity on a widespread rebuild of Pep Guardiola’s playing squad, with the common feeling being that it has reached its natural end of cycle following years of unprecedented success.

With an increased number of matches coming in the UEFA Champions League and its expanded ‘league phase’, as well as the return of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the summer, City feel as though they require a deeper squad in terms of numbers available, too.

As such, as many as four new signings could arrive into Manchester City’s playing squad this month, with two centre-backs being widely reported alongside interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush.

Palmeiras’ 18-year-old central defender Vitor Reis is attracting concrete interest from Etihad bosses as they eye a deal around the €45 million mark, while Abdukodir Khusanov is the more experienced option in the European game.

And following intensified contacts over the last few days and weeks, it appears a though Manchester City are now closing in on a deal for a player that has generated interest from within the Premier League and La Liga.

That is according to the information of Sky Germany’s Patrick Berger, who reports that Manchester City are now ‘on the verge’ of signing Uzbek centre-back, Abdukhodir Khusanov having submitted an official bid worth €50 million including bonuses to Lens on Thursday.

It is reaffirmed that the 20-year-old defender is keen on the move to the Premier League, with City offering the player a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium and their next target being Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush.

It remains to be seen when the two parties could finalise a deal in all aspects and when Khusanov could put himself into contention for Manchester City among their upcoming matches across competitions.

Lens have three remaining matches all across Ligue 1 during their January schedule, with Abdukodir Khusanov having missed their last encounter in a 0-1 home defeat to Toulouse via a suspension.

An away match against Le Havre will be following up by back-to-back home clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and Angers, while Manchester City have a much more congested fixture list this month in comparison.

An FA Cup third round tie against Salford City awaits this weekend before back-to-back Premier League away trips to Brentford and Ipswich Town are followed up by a must-win trip to PSG in the UEFA Champions League.

January then closes out by Manchester City hosting Chelsea in the Premier League and Club Brugge on the final matchday of the league phase in the UEFA Champions League.