“He’s a monster. For his age, what he does..."

That was the verdict of former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba on his Lens team-mate Abdukodir Khusanov and a 'monster' arriving in the January transfer window could be just what Man City need to revive their faltering season.

Manchester Evening News reported on Friday that City are considering accelerating their move for the 20-year-old central defender this month, after an impressive start to life in France with Lens.

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The Uzbek international has been on City's radar since he made the move to France in the summer of 2023 after impressing in Belarus and their dire injury situation could see them make their move this month.

Ruben Dias and John Stones are currently out through injury and Pep Guardiola has spoken about City's need to increase numbers in the centre of defence.

Khusanov is seen as a star of the future but he would help City in the here and now as they look to recover from a run of one win in 13 matches leaving them four points adrift of the top four and clinging on to a qualification place in the Champions League.

He already has experience in Europe's premier competition and his rise at Lens suggests he would take the step up at City and the Premier League in his stride.

When defender Kevin Danso looked set to join Roma in the summer, new Lens manager Will Still was assured Khusanov was ready to step into his place.

“He’s calm, powerful, he’s fast… He doesn’t talk but he’s good," Still said earlier this season.

"When I arrived, with the departure of ‘Kev’ [Danso] in sight, Jean-Louis Leca [Lens’ sports coordinator] told me: ‘Don’t worry, there’s ‘Kodir’ who is here, and he’s ready.’ He wasn’t wrong. He has very, very impressive potential.”

He has made 16 appearances this season in all competitions and his impressive recovery speed has caught the eye, while he ranks in the top six players in Ligue 1 this season for interceptions and successful aerial duels.

Lens would like around £20million to part ways with him this month and fellow Premier League sides Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move.

Guardiola has warned City's decision makers to be wise when sanctioning any new arrival this month but he is also well aware his team need a fresh spark.

The arrival of a player with 'impressive potential' who has been described as a 'monster' would certainly give them just that.