Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly begun negotiations to sign 20-year-old Uzbeki defensive sensation Abdukodir Khusanov from Ligue 1 club RC Lens.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Abdukodir Khusanov. The two Premier League clubs have opened talks to sign the RC Lens defensive sensation. Meanwhile, the Ligue 1 club will demand around £25 million to part ways with the 20-year-old centre-back.
The rise and rise of Abdukodir Khusanov
Abdukodir Khusanov has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Ligue 1 since joining RC Lens from Energetik-BGU in July 2023. The youngster has gradually grown in stature at the French club, and he has become a regular for Les Sang et Or in the first half of the 2024/25 season.
The 20-year-old has amassed over 1,000 minutes of game time across 16 appearances in all competitions thus far this term while chipping in with one assist. Meanwhile, Khusanov’s progress at RC Lens has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe.
Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the Uzbeki defensive sensation, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur among his prospective suitors. Meanwhile, RC Lens will demand around £25 million to part ways with the speedy centre-back, who has recorded a top speed of 36.48 km/h this season to become the fastest defender in Ligue 1.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Newcastle United’s interest in Abdukodir Khusanov is understandable. The Magpies are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the winter transfer window. The Tyneside outfit failed to sign two centre-backs this past summer. So, with Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, and Dan Burn on the wrong side of 30, Khusanov has emerged as a viable target for Newcastle United.
As for Tottenham Hotspur, the North London club will dip into the market for a centre-back next year, with Ange Postecoglou having only one recognised centre-back in his squad. With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven being the only other central defenders in the group, Tottenham can do with Khusanov.
The report has claimed that Newcastle United and Tottenham have opened talks to sign the 20-year-old RC Lens defender. Meanwhile, the Premier League clubs should have the funds to afford a deal worth £25 million to sign him from the Ligue 1 club next year.
