Everton and Newcastle United are reportedly tracking the progress of 20-year-old Uzbeki centre-back whizkid Abdukodir Khusanov at Ligue 1 club RC Lens.
According to a report by French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Abdukodir Khusanov has piqued the attention of clubs outside Ligue 1 with his progress at RC Lens. Everton and Newcastle United are among the Premier League clubs closely monitoring the progress of the young whizkid, with the Ligue 1 club valuing the 20-year-old centre-back at around €25-30 million.
Who is Abdukodir Khusanov?
Abdukodir Khusanov has established himself as one of the most promising defensive prospects in Ligue 1 since joining RC Lens from FC Energetik-BGU Minsk in July 2023. A native of Tashkent, he spent his formative years in Uzbekistan and graduated from the youth division at Bunyodkor.
The 20-year-old has risen in prominence since joining RC Lens, becoming a regular at the back for the Ligue 1 club. Khusanov has turned out 25 times thus far for Les Sang et Or while amassing 1,671 minutes of game time. The youngster’s exploits for RC Lens have helped him become a mainstay for his national team.
Khusanov has made 16 appearances thus far for Uzbekistan while growing in stature in international football. Meanwhile, the promising defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe, including Everton and Newcastle United.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Everton’s interest in Abdukodir Khusanov is understandable. The Toffees are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the two transfer windows next year amid Jarrad Branthwaite’s continued links with high-profile clubs. So, the RC Lens has emerged as a viable target for Everton.
As for Newcastle United, Lloyd Kelly was the only centre-back to join the Tyneside outfit in the summer transfer window. With Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles still on the sidelines, Newcastle United can do with a new central defender, with several candidates, including Wout Faes and Nikola Milenkovic, emerging on their radar.
However, Khusanov is also a viable target, especially considering RC Lens’s asking price of €25-30 million. With the Ligue 1 outfit not charging a high price for the 20-year-old Uzbeki centre-back whizkid, it will not be surprising to see if he joins Everton or Newcastle United next year.
