Who is Abdukodir Khusanov? The Uzbek powerhouse wanted by Tottenham and Newcastle

 

Lens are enjoying a solid Ligue 1 season. Will Still’s side went into the winter break seventh in France’s top tier, three points off the European places, and with the joint-best defensive record in the division having conceded just 14 goals in their opening 15 matches. 

 

 

Brice Samba has been a solid performer between the sticks, though the 30-year-old is set to depart for Rennes next month. Even so, the goalkeeper may not be the only departure from the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in the New Year. Lens must have braced for a January exit of Kevin Danso – the Austrian did see a move to Roma in the summer break down – but it’s Abdukodir Khusanov who is a rumoured target for Premier League sides.  

 

Khusanov is enjoying a fine breakthrough campaign for Lens. The 20-year-old made just nine league starts last season, yet he’s now one of the first names on the teamsheet for Les Sang et Or. Unsurprisingly, interest in Khusanov’s services are high as we head towards January. Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle have all been linked with a move for the Uzbekistan international, who is supposedly valued at €30m by Lens. That could prove an absolute steal. 

 

While Ligue 1 aficionados were already well aware of Khusanov’s talent, it was a clip in the 2-0 win over Reims at the end of November that saw the defender shoot to prominence. Indeed, as Reims countered, Khusanov sped back to play his part in preventing a Junya Ito goal. While he didn’t deny the chance, the former Energetik-BGU player did enough to put the 31-year-old off his stride, reaching a speed of 37 km/h in the process. 

 

This impressive recovery speed is something that will have caught the eye of Spurs fans, who are aware they need another speedy defender to provide sufficient cover for the presently-injured Micky van de Ven. With the way City play, they too could use a centre-back of Khusanov’s calibre to ease their current woes, while it’s a quality that won’t have been lost on Newcastle. 

 

A key trait behind Khusanov’s rise and Lens’ commendable start to the campaign is the defender’s reading of the game, an asset that belies his tender years. Only Saint-Etienne’s Dylan Batubinsika (29) has made more interceptions than the Lens man (26) in France’s top tier this term, reinforcing a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘ball interception’. 

 

 

Standing at 6’1, Khusanov is able to dominate aerially, which is a desirable strength for any centre-back. Of the 92 players to have contested at least 25 aerial duels, Khusanov’s success rate of 70% is the sixth best in Ligue 1. For context, this metric is led by Alexsandro Ribeiro (78.6%) in France’s top tier. 

 

“He’s a monster. For his age, what he does…” Samba has said previously of Khusanov, with the French shotstopper full or praise for the young Lens star. While he would have to adjust to playing in a four-man backline, with Lens currently operating with a three-man defensive system and Khusanov on the right side, he has the athleticism that would allow him to slot in seamlessly for potential suitors. 

 

With the transfer window opening this week, Khusanov will have his pick of teams should he elect to leave Lens. Even with limited experience in one of Europe’s top leagues, Khusanov has the physical standing to quickly transition from Ligue 1 to the Premier League. Few big teams make moves in January but you can be sure a number of sides will look to land the Uzbek defender in the New Year.

Who is Abdukodir Khusanov? The Uzbek powerhouse wanted by Tottenham and Newcastle