Pep Guardiola gets transfer wish granted as Man City kick January window into gear
Manchester City have struggled in the Premier League this season and it appears as though they are set to strengthen their side after a public appeal from boss Pep Guardiola
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorManchester City are set to seal a blockbuster deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov - and have two more transfers in the pipeline.
The reigning Premier League champions have struggled this term. They sit sixth in the table after just over half of the season - already 12 points behind current leaders Liverpool.
City haven’t regularly been active in the January window in the past but that now looks set to change as Pep Guardiola attempts to get the side back on track. Numerous reports suggest that they have struck a deal to sign Lens centre-back Khusanov.
The Athletic reveal that they are set to pay around €40million (£33.6m) for the defender, who will sign a four-and-a-half year deal with the option of an extra year at the Etihad Stadium. Lens chief Pierre Dreossi confirmed earlier this month that Khusanov was set to depart.
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Speaking to DAZN, he said: “Khusanov will leave, [but] there haven't been any good bids yet. There will be departures and arrivals.
“We will have more than enough quality players to qualify for Europe. If he is to leave and if the bids are interesting enough, above all, it's about finding an economic balance."
Khusanov might not be the only player that City move for this January. They have also been linked with Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis and reportedly had a bid accepted for the teenager.
Work remains ongoing to seal his signature. Those two arrivals will match Guardiola’s wish of a new centre-back, while he also wants a new central midfielder amid Rodri’s ongoing absence.
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Speaking after the win against Leicester last month, he said: “Kevin [de Bruyne] is back but we need more in the middle and the back four, we have struggled with full-backs and central defenders.
“In some positions we need help. The squad is good, the problem is we don’t have the squad and that makes everything difficult. When we’re all together we’re the team we were but with important players out for weeks and months it’s so difficult.
“I thought central defenders would be fit all season but we have struggled – holding midfield and central defenders we need help. The market is the market it’s not easy, it’s expensive so we will see what the club can do.”
Away from defenders, City are also closing in on a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian had also been linked with a move to Liverpool after an impressive first-half of the season in which he has scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists.
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