Man City to fork out €40m in 'one of the most profitable transfers in history' that even trumps Neymar deal

Manchester City are poised to splash out €40 million on a transfer which looks set to become one of the most profitable in history.

Though they don't typically dip into the January market, a poor run of form and series of injuries has led City to believe they need to strengthen in the middle of the season.

While the focus appeared to be on a replacement for injured Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, City appear to be prioritising a new forward option as well as looking to improve in central defence.

And on Friday it was reported that City are moving closely to getting a first name through the door, with a deal for RC Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

The Uzbekistan international is just 20 years of age but is highly-rated and has made 16 appearances for the French outfit this season.

The Times say that negotiations between City and Lens are at an advanced stage and the player missed training on Friday due to illness.

The overall transfer fee could rise to £42 million, making it Lens' record deal. In addition, it also represents an almost unparalleled level of profit as Lens paid just £84,000 to bring Khusanov in from Belarusian side Energetik-BGU in July 2023.

Lens are therefore in line to make 50 times what they paid. Though Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona is still a record deal and achieved the biggest ever transfer profit with €134 million, journalist Julien Laurens has claimed Khusanov's mooted move "would be one of the most profitable transfers ever" outside of academy graduates.

Khusanov, on the books of Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency, looks set to become the first player from Uzbekistan to play in the Premier League.

Guardiola refuses to discuss transfers

City are also being linked with Eintracht Frankfurt's versatile forward Omar Marmoush, while they are also believed to be in discussions with Palmeiras over 18-year-old Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis.

However, Pep Guardiola refused to answer questions about transfers in his latest press conference - ahead of the FA Cup game with Salford City.

Pep Guardiola did not want to discuss transfers. Image: Getty

He said: “Don’t ask me about that because I’m not going [to answer]. All month you’re going to ask the same about all we are linked with in the media, so I’m not going to talk. You can insist, I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the situation,”

We know we should not go to the transfer window, I don’t like much. The situation that’s happened this season with many, many, many injuries, we have to try to do it because the situation is what it is. But what happens, I’m not going to talk because I don’t know.

"Of course I have conversations with the club but the process and what’s happening, I don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s so difficult. And what is going to happen is going to happen, otherwise I cannot say anything else.”