Manchester City faces a challenging situation as they gear up for the FA Cup third-round tie against Salford City without key defender Ruben Dias. The club is actively negotiating with Palmeiras for the promising teenage defender Vitor Reis, although reports suggesting a quick sale have been denied by the club's president. Meanwhile, City's defensive line continues to be stretched thin, with England's John Stones also missing the crucial match.
Adding to the defensive woes, Nathan Ake has already faced extended periods on the sidelines due to injury this season. However, City is not sitting idle. The club is keen on bolstering their attack by pursuing Egypt's forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. In a significant move, City has agreed on a 40 million euros deal with Lens for the central defender Abdukodir Khusanov, marking a strategic addition to their lineup.
Khusanov, who joined Lens from Energetik-BGU for only 100,000 euros 18 months ago, has quickly risen through the ranks. He has made 13 appearances in Ligue 1 this season and boasts 18 caps for Uzbekistan. Notably, he scored his first goal for Lens in a French Cup tie against Paris St-Germain on December 22. With this transfer, Khusanov will become Manchester City's first significant January signing since Aymeric Laporte in 2018 and the first player from Uzbekistan to join a Premier League club.
In positive news for City, Oscar Bobb has returned to training after a five-month absence due to a fractured leg, offering some relief to manager Pep Guardiola. Guardiola remains determined to strengthen his squad following a difficult couple of months that have seen them slip 12 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.
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