Newcastle United are keen on signing Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov in what could be the first test of Paul Mitchell’s ability to broker January transfer deals.
The 20-year-old has been touted as one of Europe’s most promising defenders and fits neatly into the profile of the sort of player that director of football Mitchell wants to tilt the club’s recruitment strategy towards.
Lens are willing to sell the right-sided centre-back, having handed a mandate to agent Jorge Mendes to drum up interest in the Uzbekistan international in the January transfer window.
A fee of around £20m to sign him has been mooted by Lens, which is less than a third of what Newcastle bid for England international Marc Guehi during an ultimately failed pursuit in the summer.
Although Newcastle insiders believe their position in relation to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will make it a difficult month in terms of incomings – with Eddie Howe playing down the prospect of much, if any, business during the month – the club are understood to be actively investigating possible deals.
And sources in France insist they are interested in stealing a march on Premier League rivals, including Tottenham, by signing Khusanov. The player himself is also open to the move to St James’ Park.
As revealed by The i Paper earlier this month, their PSR situation means Newcastle may pivot towards potential rather than ready-made first team starters this month.
Khusanov would appear to tick both boxes – while also representing something of a move away from the club’s aspiration of signing players with Premier League experience.
Newcastle have shifted their focus to European leagues and wider afield since a summer in which – as Mitchell admitted in September – their remit was too narrow, so they were chasing a smaller pool of targets.
Mitchell believes Newcastle’s PSR situation means they have no choice but to focus on unearthing players with the potential to become huge assets rather than simply attempting to sign ready-made internationals who come with huge price tags.
If Newcastle are able to clinch a deal it would also represent a significant coup given the calibre of clubs keen on Khusanov.
Paris Saint Germain, Manchester City and RB Leipzig have also been credited with an interest but Mitchell’s recruitment background, as well as his extensive knowledge of the French transfer market, would likely help Newcastle in any negotiations.
Newcastle sources have consistently stressed that major moves will be difficult given their PSR situation, with interest in Bournemouth’s £50m-rated forward Antoine Semenyo and PSV Eindhoven’s similarly expensive winger Johan Bakoyoko viewed as unlikely.
But Howe told Amazon Prime after their Boxing Day defeat of Aston Villa that he had aspirations of adding to the squad in January.
“If we can strengthen, of course that would be our preference,” he said.
“You can never stand still in the game. The game evolves too quickly. We want to stay at the very top of that evolving feeling. But you can only do it if we can do it. And if we can’t, we have to get the best out of the squad, which is what we’re doing.”
As well as brokering incoming deals, there is scrutiny on Mitchell’s ability to offload players who are surplus to requirements.
Newcastle have made Miguel Almiron available for transfer – with Brazilian side Botafogo the latest club linked with a move – but a possible exit for Martin Dubravka, attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, has been complicated by his elevation to the first team after Nick Pope’s injury.
Newcastle’s superb form certainly eases some of the pressure on club officials. They have won four in a row, progressing into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup while rising to fifth in a congested top half of the Premier League table.
That’s a position that, given the performance of English clubs in the Champions League so far, would qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
European football is seen as key to keeping the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle in the long term. While both have been linked with moves away, insiders are confident the Magpies would resist overtures for either in January.
