With information Monday that Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Uzbekistan global defender Abdukodir Khusanov, ESPN’s Julien Laurens and Tor-Kristian Karlsen let you know what you wish to have to grasp in regards to the 19-year-old starlet heading to the English Premier League.
The Lens scout who travelled to the Below-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in March 2023 went with one challenge: to verify the skill of 19-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. Via stats and analysis, Lens’ recruitment staff had already known Khusanov, who were impressing within the Belarus govern flying with Energetik-BGU Minsk, as a participant to store a alike visible on. Believing he was once probably the most promising defenders of his year, the membership had to see him in motion.
Lens didn’t have to attend lengthy for a solution as his efficiency on the event, which was once gained via the host society, showed it. He was once arguably the most efficient participant on display and Lens had been willing to signal him ahead of he took phase within the Under-20 FIFA World Cup two months then, as scouts from larger golf equipment could be there and would indubitably realize him.
Lens needed to wait till July to get their guy, securing the switch for a measly €100,000 — it was once nonetheless the largest switch rate Energetik-BGU had ever won — with the view that he might be walked away for a vital benefit going forward. The theory was once to provide him once in a while to conform to Ligue 1, play games within the Champions League just a little, and manufacture his attainable.
The membership had a three-year plan to create Khusanov into one of the vital very best centre-backs in France, however it took handiest 18 months. Referred to as “Kodir” via his teammates, he made a couple of errors alongside the way in which, like his crimson card towards Paris Saint-Germain in November. His sick self-discipline was once one thing to notice, with 5 yellow playing cards in 11 Ligue 1 video games final season. However he has course-corrected since and has been a lot more centered this 12 months (two yellows in 13.)
Later lacking out on €40m in switch charges final summer season when exits for Kevin Danso and Neil El Aynaoui collapsed, Lens wanted to deliver in price range to steadiness their books this January. Preferably, they sought after to store Khusanov for every other 18 months — even six supplementary months may have distinguishable them storage more cash — however the need to do the offer now was once obvious and the membership was once at all times unclouded that he would no longer release for not up to €40m. In spite of everything, they reached a offer for €48m, together with add-ons alike to efficiency.
One of the vital international’s govern brokers, Jorge Mendes, brokered the switch and Manchester City moved briefly this hour to strengthen their ill defence. For a participant who was once incomes handiest €35,000 a moment, a journey to the Premier League — the place he would be the first Uzbek to play games within the league — is life-changing. — JL
Place
The 18-time Uzbekistan global has predominantly featured within the heart or to the left in Lens’ again 3. On a couple of events he’s additionally performed in a back-four partnership, however it’s perceptible that having two extra skilled centre-backs along him (Danso, Jonathan Gradit or Facundo Medina) has helped his building. With rather much less area to cover, being “boxed in” and extra safe in a again 3, Khusanov can focal point on his core duties — i.e. protecting — and release the development of play games from defence to these extra at ease at the ball. — TK
Strengths
For the ones unacquainted with Khusanov’s taste, his first warmup must give a couple of clues as to what he’s all about. His 6-foot-1 body — compact, robust with robust legs and large shoulders — way that he’s constructed to cover. A groovy 2.35 interceptions consistent with 90 mins — striking him within the govern 1% of Ligue 1 centre-backs — confirms what’s perceptible simply from observing him: He performs at the entrance foundation, is proactive and appears to snuff out risk on the first alternative.
He is speedy, too — very fast. In December, a clip of him sprinting the length of the pitch (at 37 kmph) to chase i’m sick Reims winger Junya Ito went viral.
Khusanov is just too rapid! 😱💨@RCLens pic.twitter.com/JKlNsLnoRV
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024
Khusanov’s noteceable game-reading abilities and bodily taste of protecting must create him smartly provided to offer with the depth of the Premier League, however there’s a flip-side to his enthusiasm to compete and take on (73% a hit consistent with 90 mins). It way he operates on tiny margins and his urge for food for a last-ditch interception could cause needless fouls.
But in comparison to his under-20 centre-back friends, his qualities as a one-on-one defender get up out. Khusanov is very tenacious and is worked up to cover via no matter way wanted: frame, head, blocks — which is one thing of a death artwork for younger defenders. — TK
How he can be enhanced
Essentially the most evident section is his on-the-ball composure and distribution. Regardless that Lens are probably the most possession-heavy facets in Ligue 1 (54% consistent with competition on reasonable), Khusanov normally leaves the high-risk passing to his defensive colleagues and typically selections out his wing-back, who in most cases receives the ball with extra area and not more power out large.
Pace a matching organisation of duties will refuse uncertainty be the case at Town too, it’ll be attention-grabbing to look how briefly he can be enhanced his distribution to the purpose the place he’s assured plethora to play games in an aspect whose complete competition plan is according to construction from the again.
Khusanov is under no circumstances a legal responsibility with the ball (his lengthy passes are making improvements to), however as Pep Guardiola has a tendency to desire “possession experts” as centre-backs, the coming of a less-cultured defender does constitute relatively unchartered length. Thoughts you, Ruben Dias was once matching when he arrived and no person anticipated Guardiola to signal an out-and-out centre-forward to suit into his device, however Erling Haaland has labored out superb. — TK
In quotes
Lens boss Will Nonetheless advised Yahoo Sports: “He’s calm, powerful, he’s fast. He doesn’t talk but he’s good. When I arrived, with the departure of ‘Kev’ [Danso] in sight, Jean-Louis Leca [Lens’ sports coordinator] told me: ‘Don’t worry, there’s ‘Kodir’ who is here, and he’s ready.’ He wasn’t wrong. He has very, very impressive potential.”
Who else had been connected?
Rumours linking the defender clear of Lens have endured for months. Liverpool and Manchester United had been stated to be early admirers of Khusanov from the age he made his Ligue 1 debut. However not too long ago, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United had been discussed, too. — TK
How will he have compatibility at Manchester Town?
Khusanov’s meteoric stand proves that govern skill can also be discovered any place. His quitness, level-headed persona has served him smartly, however with handiest 20 Ligue 1 begins to his title, it rest to be distinguishable whether or not he has been signed as a pace challenge or can be thrown into motion right away.
For the reason that his switch price €48m, it’s truthful to think that Khusanov can be getting some competition occasion quickly. And given Town’s fresh defensive woes, Guardiola may surely do with a centre-back who thinks “defence first.”
With veteran right-back Kyle Walker set to depart this hour, Town’s want for a defender with ample pace to store up in long-distance dash duels — being stuck in defensive transitions has been certainly one of Guardiola’s important considerations this season — is on the level of being precarious. So Khusanov’s life must turn out to be a significance asset in that regard.
With regards to assimilation, Khusanov is finding out English, although he isn’t essentially the most talkative even in his personal language. However his primary problem can be to learn to play games in a again 4, which depends upon being at ease at the ball. — TK
