Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on signing a 20-year-old Ligue 1 defender in the wake of Micky van de Ven's latest injury blow.
The Dutchman was overcome by emotion when he suffered a thigh injury in Wednesday's 2-1 EFL Cup last-16 win over Manchester City, having spent two months out last season with a similar issue.
Van de Ven's concern this time around is not thought to be as severe, but Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday that the centre-back will not return until after the international break.
As a result, the Netherlands international will at least be absent for three games, starting with Sunday's visit of Aston Villa in the Premier League, as well as imminent meetings with Galatasaray and Ipswich Town.
While Van de Ven is on the treatment table, Radu Dragusin is expected to step in alongside Cristian Romero, but Postecoglou's only other senior central option is Ben Davies, a left-back by trade and a player who is out of contract in 2025.
Tottenham to rival Newcastle United for Abdukodir Khusanov?
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Dragusin - who struggles for Premier League game time when Romero and Van de Ven are fully fit - has been linked with an exit in January too, and Spurs are said to be targeting defensive reinforcements in January.
According to Football Insider, Lens and Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov is a name on Spurs' radar, although the Lilywhites are not alone in their pursuit of the 20-year-old.
Newcastle United are also believed to be keen to bring the fledgling defender to the Premier League in 2025, and he is regarded as a quick centre-back who can add speed to a team's backline.
Van de Ven has become renowned for his blistering pace since making the move to North London in 2023, but the report adds that both clubs have been 'warned' about Khusanov's minimal experience.
As Spurs and Newcastle are expecting to challenge for European football this season, the two sides could target older options midway through the season instead, but Khusanov is still regarded as a top prospect for the future.
Who is rumoured Tottenham target Khusanov?
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Formerly of Bunyodkor in his homeland and Belarusian side Energetik-BGU, Khusanov joined Ligue 1 upstarts Lens for just €100k (£84k) in the summer of 2023 and made 15 appearances in his debut campaign.
The 20-year-old did not immediately become a regular starter for Les Sang et Or, but under the tutelage of newly-appointed manager Will Still, he has cemented himself as a key man in the heart of the Lens defence.
Khusanov has already 12 appearances in all competitions this season, starting each of Lens' last eight Ligue 1 games, but he was sent off in a 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
Standing at 6ft 1in tall, the defender is also a fundamental part of the Uzbekistan national team squad and has helped them go unbeaten in all of their World Cup qualifiers in 2024 so far.
Khusanov is under contract at Lens for another three years, and the French side will no doubt earn a serious profit on the £84k that they paid for his services last year if he does make the switch to England in 2025.
Ben Knapton
