Man City consider changing defender plan in January transfer window

Manchester City are considering accelerating plans to sign young defender Abdukodir Khusanov in the January transfer window with their injury situation ongoing.

The Blues have been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old defender after a breakthrough season in the Belarusian league in the 2022-23 season saw him earn a move to Lens in Ligue 1. There he has become the first Uzbek defender to play in the division and the youngest to feature in the Champions League and Europa League.

City had been eyeing the centre-back as a future prospect rather than a player that would immediately come in to challenge in Pep Guardiola's starting XI every week. From John Stones to Josko Gvardiol, none of the players signed to date under the manager have been brought in so young, and even Gvardiol as the youngest - he was 21 when he signed - had extensive experience in several leagues as well as internationally in major tournaments.

However, there has been no let-up with the injury problems to defenders that have caused City's season to unravel. In the 14 matches since their unbeaten start to the campaign was ended, at least one of Guardiola's four established centre-backs have missed each match and Ruben Dias and John Stones have not played together since the Carabao Cup defeat to Spurs in October - when both suffered injuries in the game.

Khusanov is attracting interest from other top clubs and would cost around £20m to bring in. City are certainly interested, and could change their plans for him by bringing him in this January.

Despite dismissing interest in midfield targets Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi this month, the Blues are still looking to spend in the winter window and Atalanta's Ederson and Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush are