Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lens to sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

There is a contract between the clubs worth 40 million euros plus bonuses. The 20-year-old is ready to join City on a four-and-a-half year contract, which includes an option for a 12-month extension.

Khusanov has been identified as a key target to strengthen the rearguard by coach Pep Guardiola and they are eyeing a move for the Uzbekistan centre-back.

The Premier League champions have also started talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign 25-year-old striker Omar Marmoush from the German side.

(Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

An agreement has not yet been reached but there are good relations between the teams and a willingness to find a compromise that would bring the Egypt international to the Etihad Stadium.

The athlete reported on January 8 that City were working on a deal to sign Khusanov and were also exploring a deal for Marmoush this month.

The 18-cap Uzbekistan international joined Lens from Belarusian club Energetik-BGU Minsk in 2023 and played 31 games for the French club, including two appearances as a substitute in the group stage of the 2023/24 Champions League.

Khusanov has established himself as a regular fixture in the French side’s starting XI this season, missing just two of Lens’ 18 Ligue 1 games due to a two-match suspension for a red card in November.

Pep Guardiola’s side’s current options include Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and John Stones at centre-back.

City, sixth in the Premier League, face Salford City in the FA Cup on January 11.

(ANP via Getty Images)