Leeds United’s pursuit of Abdukodir Khusanov, the 20-year-old central defender from Uzbekistan, hit a setback as Manchester City swooped in for the player.
Although Leeds reportedly made the first offer, a hefty £17 million bid, it was City who eventually secured Khusanov after talks began in late November.
Leeds United’s Bid vs. Manchester City’s Move
Leeds were interested in bringing Khusanov to Elland Road, with the hope of strengthening their defense.
They even made the first move, but according to Khusanov’s agent, Gayrat Khasbiullin, Manchester City had already been in talks with the player and his club before Leeds made their bid.
Financial Fair Play Impact
Leeds faced challenges with financial fair play (FFP) restrictions, which prevented them from going higher than their initial offer.
In contrast, Manchester City had no such restrictions, allowing them to quickly close the deal with Lens, offering a total of €50 million (£42.23m) including bonuses.
Khusanov has now joined Manchester City, becoming the first player from Uzbekistan to play in the Premier League.
Despite a rocky debut, where he made an error that led to a Chelsea goal, Khusanov’s future with City looks promising.
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