The agent of Abdukodir Khusanov insists Newcastle United were well-placed to sign the exciting Uzbek international before Manchester City swooped in and landed the central defender.

After a breakout season with Lens, the French side were inundated with offers for the 20-year-old, with City confirming his capture this week as their January spree takes shape. Newcastle tracked the youngster for months and watched Will Still's side in person in order to see whether Khusanov was worth the hype.

Newcastle registered their interest but with profit and sustainability rules [PSR] continuing to greatly impact the club's spending ability, City were allowed to steal a march for a defender tipped to go to the very top.

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“Newcastle was very close to the deal. They even remained one of the favourites, and then was the last to leave the race with City,” Khusanov's agent Gairat Khasbiullin told Championat.

“As far as I understand, financial fair play also had an impact. Well, they didn’t have enough time. Perhaps if they had made an offer earlier, they would have had time to come to an agreement.

“Then City put so much pressure on Lens that it was difficult to make a comparable offer. It was also influenced by the fact that the French needed this money.”

After a long, drawn out chase for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in the summer, Newcastle chiefs are still hopeful of finding a long-term partner for Sven Botman. The Dutchman has returned from his Anterior Cruciate Ligament [ACL] injury in fine form and is now battling it out with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn for a place at the heart of Eddie Howe's defence.

However, with both defenders beginning to reach the business end of their careers, sporting director Paul Mitchell will be tasked with finding younger models who can lead Newcastle into the future. Juma Bah, 18, is one player the Magpies have identified as a target but Man City are also eyeing a move for the teenager.