With information Monday that Manchester Metropolis have confirmed the signing of Uzbekistan worldwide defender Abdukodir Khusanov, ESPN’s Julien Laurens and Tor-Kristian Karlsen inform you what it is advisable know in regards to the 19-year-old starlet heading to the English Premier League.
The Lens scout who travelled to the Underneath-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in March 2023 went with one mission: to verify the expertise of 19-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. Via stats and analysis, Lens’ recruitment staff had already recognized Khusanov, who had been impressing within the Belarus high flight with Energetik-BGU Minsk, as a participant to maintain a detailed eye on. Believing he was probably the most promising defenders of his era, the membership wanted to see him in motion.
Lens did not have to attend lengthy for a solution as his efficiency on the match, which was gained by the host nation, confirmed it. He was arguably the most effective participant on present and Lens had been eager to signal him earlier than he took half within the Underneath-20 FIFA World Cup two months later, as scouts from larger golf equipment could be there and would certainly discover him.
Lens needed to wait till July to get their man, securing the switch for a measly €100,000 — it was nonetheless the largest switch charge Energetik-BGU had ever acquired — with the view that he may very well be moved on for a big revenue sooner or later. The concept was to provide him a while to adapt to Ligue 1, play within the Champions League a bit, and develop his potential.
The membership had a three-year plan to make Khusanov into the most effective centre-backs in France, but it surely took solely 18 months. Known as “Kodir” by his teammates, he made a number of errors alongside the best way, like his purple card towards Paris Saint-Germain in November. His ailing self-discipline was 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 way more centered this yr (two yellows in 13.)
After lacking out on €40m in switch charges final summer season when exits for Kevin Danso and Neil El Aynaoui collapsed, Lens wanted to usher in funds to stability their books this January. Ideally, they needed to maintain Khusanov for an additional 18 months — even six extra months may have seen them financial institution more cash — however the necessity to do the deal now was obvious and the membership was at all times clear that he wouldn’t go away for lower than €40m. In the long run, they reached a deal for €48m, together with add-ons associated to efficiency.
One of many world’s high brokers, Jorge Mendes, brokered the switch and Manchester Metropolis moved shortly this month to bolster their ailing defence. For a participant who was incomes solely €35,000 every week, a transfer to the Premier League — the place he would be the first Uzbek to play within the league — is life-changing. — JL
Place
The 18-time Uzbekistan worldwide has predominantly featured within the center or to the left in Lens’ again three. On a number of events he is additionally performed in a back-four partnership, but it surely’s evident that having two extra skilled centre-backs alongside him (Danso, Jonathan Gradit or Facundo Medina) has helped his improvement. With barely much less area to defend, being “boxed in” and extra protected in a again three, Khusanov can concentrate on his core obligations — i.e. defending — and go away the development of play from defence to these extra snug on the ball. — TK
Strengths
For these unacquainted with Khusanov’s fashion, his first warmup ought to give a number of clues as to what he is all about. His 6-foot-1 body — compact, highly effective with robust legs and broad shoulders — means that he’s constructed to defend. A cool 2.35 interceptions per 90 minutes — placing him within the high 1% of Ligue 1 centre-backs — confirms what is obvious simply from watching him: He performs on the entrance foot, is proactive and appears to snuff out hazard on the first alternative.
He’s fast, too — very fast. In December, a clip of him sprinting the size of the pitch (at 37 kmph) to chase down Reims winger Junya Ito went viral.
Khusanov is just too quick! 😱💨@RCLens pic.twitter.com/JKlNsLnoRV
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024
Khusanov’s spectacular game-reading expertise and bodily fashion of defending ought to make him properly geared up to take care of the depth of the Premier League, however there is a flip-side to his eagerness to compete and sort out (73% profitable per 90 minutes). It means he operates on small margins and his urge for food for a last-ditch interception could cause pointless fouls.
But in comparison with his under-20 centre-back friends, his qualities as a one-on-one defender stand out. Khusanov is extraordinarily tenacious and is completely happy to defend by no matter means wanted: physique, head, blocks — which is one thing of a dying artwork for younger defenders. — TK
How he can enhance
The obvious space is his on-the-ball composure and distribution. Although Lens are probably the most possession-heavy sides in Ligue 1 (54% per recreation on common), Khusanov normally leaves the high-risk passing to his defensive colleagues and customarily picks out his wing-back, who usually receives the ball with more room and fewer strain out extensive.
Whereas an identical organisation of obligations will little question be the case at Metropolis too, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how shortly he can enhance his distribution to the purpose the place he’s assured sufficient to play in a aspect whose whole recreation plan relies on constructing from the again.
Khusanov is under no circumstances a legal responsibility with the ball (his lengthy passes are enhancing), however as Pep Guardiola tends to choose “possession specialists” as centre-backs, the arrival of a less-cultured defender does signify considerably unchartered territory. Thoughts you, Ruben Dias was comparable when he arrived and nobody anticipated Guardiola to signal an out-and-out centre-forward to suit into his system, however Erling Haaland has labored out superb. — TK
In quotes
Lens boss Will Nonetheless informed Yahoo Sports activities: “He is calm, highly effective, he is quick. He does not speak however he is good. Once I arrived, with the departure of ‘Kev’ [Danso] in sight, Jean-Louis Leca [Lens’ sports coordinator] informed me: ‘Don’t be concerned, there’s ‘Kodir’ who’s right here, and he is prepared.’ He wasn’t unsuitable. He has very, very spectacular potential.”
Who else had been linked?
Rumours linking the defender away from Lens have persevered for months. Liverpool and Manchester United had been stated to be early admirers of Khusanov from the second he made his Ligue 1 debut. However just lately, Actual Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have been talked about, too. — TK
How will he match at Manchester Metropolis?
Khusanov’s meteoric rise proves that high expertise may be discovered anyplace. His calm, level-headed character has served him properly, however with solely 20 Ligue 1 begins to his identify, it stays to be seen whether or not he has been signed as a future undertaking or shall be thrown into motion immediately.
Provided that his switch value €48m, it is honest to imagine that Khusanov shall be getting some recreation time quickly. And given Metropolis’s current defensive woes, Guardiola may definitely do with a centre-back who thinks “defence first.”
With veteran right-back Kyle Walker set to depart this month, Metropolis’s want for a defender with ample velocity to maintain up in long-distance dash duels — being caught in defensive transitions has been certainly one of Guardiola’s chief issues this season — is on the level of being precarious. So Khusanov’s tempo ought to show to be a invaluable asset in that regard.
When it comes to assimilation, Khusanov is studying English, although he isn’t probably the most talkative even in his personal language. However his essential problem shall be to learn to play in a again 4, which depends on being snug on the ball. — TK