RC Lens has reportedly accepted a $41 million for Abdukodir Khusanov, who is regarded as one of the best young defenders in French soccer.

While head coach Pep Guardiola is tight-lipped about this transfer deal, the news of Walker’s possible exit may have forced the defending Premier League champion to search for options in the January market.

He spent his youth in the capital of his native Uzbekistan playing for FC Bunyodkor in Tashkent, a team that gained notoriety in 2008 for signing Rivaldo and hiring Zico as manager. A country not traditionally known for its football, Khusanov left at the age of 18 for Belarus and FC Energetik-BGU Minsk.

Eighteen months later, they are in advanced talks to sell him for 500 times that fee.The negotiators here are Lens, the French club who have spent more of the past 15 years in Ligue 2 than in Ligue 1,

Manchester City are working on deals to sign Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov this month. There are no agreements in place for either player yet but discussions are advancing as City intensify their efforts to recruit both.

Manchester City are closing in on the signing of defender Abdukodir Khusanov after reaching an agreement with RC Lens, sources have told ESPN.

Abdukodir Khusanov may not become an immediate part of Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up plans at Manchester City should he join the club this month.The ongoing belief is that the Premier League