Newcastle United targets set for Premier League moves after reaching agreements.
Manchester City secure two of Europe’s brightest young defensive talents ahead of their rivals.
On Monday, the Premier League champions confirmed the signing of RC Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £34 million.
Remarkably, Lens had signed Khusanov for just £84,000 from Belarusian club Energetik-BGU 18 months ago.
Since then, he has made 31 appearances and established himself as one of Ligue 1’s standout defenders.
Khusanov also makes history as the first Uzbekistan international to play in the Premier League.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City, a club I’ve admired for a long time,” said Khusanov.
“This squad is full of the best players in the world, and I can’t wait to meet them and play alongside them.
Pep Guardiola is one of the greatest coaches ever, and I’m excited to learn from him and improve my game.
This is a proud moment for me and my family, and I’m ready for this challenge.”
In addition to Khusanov, Manchester City is also set to sign Sierra Leonean defender Juma Bah, as revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday morning.
Bah, an 18-year-old currently on loan at Real Valladolid from AIK Freetong, has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Manchester City this month.
Romano suggests the plan may involve Bah being loaned to RC Lens.
This flurry of activity indirectly ties to Newcastle United.
Both Khusanov and Bah had been on Newcastle’s radar, but the club’s spending is constrained by Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
These financial limitations have even forced Newcastle to sell two young talents in the summer.
In contrast, Manchester City’s January spending spree highlights the disparity.
Having already spent £64 million on Khusanov and Palmeiras center-back Vitor Reis, City’s expenditure is expected to exceed £134 million once the signings of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush and Bah are completed.
This could make City the second-highest January spenders in Premier League history, behind Chelsea’s £281 million in 2023.
Meanwhile, Newcastle, despite being short of attacking options, have sanctioned Miguel Almirón’s £10 million transfer to Atlanta United.
The decision, described as making “business sense” rather than “football sense,” underscores the financial constraints faced by the club.
