RC Lens almost completed a transfer of its central defender Abdukodir Khusanov this winter and the competition is increasingly fierce in this matter. The position of PSG remains very uncertain.
It's no secret that PSG is looking to recruit a right-handed central defender this winter to prepare for the post-Marquinhos era. A young player, but already experienced and intense in duels, is targeted. An arrival, however, conditional on the departure of Milan Skriniar, who is no longer part of the club's plans, but who has not yet found a buyer six days after the opening of the winter transfer window.
Among the players announced in PSG's sights, we find the young Lensois central defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who ticks all the boxes and plays in a club which needs to sell this winter for 44 million euros. Lens does not hide it and confirmed on December 20, through its sports director Diego Lopez, that it had mandated the famous Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes to find a club for Khusanov.
“Khusanov will leave” this winter according to the general director of Lens
Sunday, on the sidelines of Lensois' 1-0 defeat against Toulouse, Lensois general manager Pierre Dréossi took stock of his team's transfer window and more or less confirmed that his Uzbek international would leave the club in January: “Brice Samba will perhaps leave. Khusanov will leave »he replied to the Ligue 1 broadcaster, before qualifying his statement somewhat.
“Khusanov, if he has to leave and the offers are interesting, it is above all to try to find an economic balance, slipped Dréossi. We have talked about it a lot but it is also the balance of the team and the sporting balance. I hope with its sale that we will return to a level which corresponds more to that of RC Lens, but without less important ambitions. »
Manchester City and Real Madrid interested
On Sunday, the famous Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who had already spoken about it a few days earlier, reiterated that Manchester City was interested in Khusanov and was already in contact with Lens and the player. According to FootMercato, a meeting even took place last week between City, Lens, Jorge Mendes and the player's entourage (his father plus his agent).
According to FM, Real Madrid and Newcastle are also very interested in the player, who has not ruled out staying a little longer in Lens, but above all wants to choose his future club in the event of his departure. “We are grateful for everything Lens has given us, but it is up to the player to decide the next step to take. Abdukodir is now ready to stay a few more months in Lens if necessary. The player’s sporting development is a priority for us”his entourage informed FootMercato.
Lens hopes for €40 million, is PSG's interest still relevant?
And PSG in all this? FootMercato was the first media to report Parisian interest in the player on November 26 and L'Equipe confirmed last month that Khusanov corresponded to the profile sought by Luis Campos in the central defender position, without guaranteeing that PSG would take action.
In England, the Daily Mirror interviewed the player's agent last weekend, a certain Gairat Khasbiullin. “He deserves to play in the best clubs in Europe, he told the English tabloid. We have a very good relationship with Lens and we are on the same side – together we want the best for the player. If the transfer goes through, the club will receive a well-deserved reward for putting their trust in this young player. »
In its article on Khusanov, the English tabloid still cites PSG among the interested clubs, along with Manchester City, Newcastle and even Tottenham. Fierce competition which risks exploding the price of the young defender bought for 100,000 euros a year and a half ago. At the start of the transfer window, Lens hoped for between 25 and 30 million euros, but are now aiming for at least 40 million euros according to FM. What to scare PSG?
