It’s the sort of investment a middle-ranking football club dreams of. They stake a modest €100,000 to secure a player of evident potential but untested in the elite leagues of the game. Eighteen months later, they are in advanced talks to sell him for 500 times that fee.
The negotiators here are Lens, the French club who have spent more of the past 15 years in Ligue 2 than in Ligue 1, and Manchester City, who have been Premier League champions eight times in that period. City have a good eye for a player: If they are willing to consider a commitment of €50m - €10m of that in bonuses - for Abdukodir Khusanov, it means they have identified a potential superstar, a future household name.
Khusanov is only 20, and if his career seems to have soared very suddenly, that’s a lot to do with his age. But it’s also about his country of origin.
Uzbekistan – whose national teams, at youth and senior level, are competitive in Asia – tends to export few players to the wealthier leagues of Europe or the Middle East. Assuming City complete the deal taking Khusanov from Lens to Lancashire, he would become the first Uzbek player employed in England’s hugely cosmopolitan top division.
Lens can congratulate themselves on their foresight. They sought information on the central defender while he was a strikingly mature, if little known teenager.
They assigned one of the scouts, Baptiste Favier, to study how the then 19-year-old performed at the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, a tournament taking place a long way from his home, and with a number of recognised future stars on the cast list.
Uzbekistan faced the hosts, Argentina, on the opening night, and, against the odds, they took the lead. The advantage would soon be erased by striker Alejo Veliz, on whom there were many more expert eyes focused that evening.
But though Veliz had escaped a marker to score an equaliser that Argentina would build on to win the match 2-1, Favier was impressed that when Khusanov was directly policing Veliz – who joined Tottenham Hotspur later that summer – the striker was well marshalled.
“It was an interesting duel with him and Khusanov,” Favier recalled to L’Equipe, "because Veliz was physically powerful and strong in the air.”
The next three matches, up to the Uzbekistan’s under-20s departing the competition at the last-16 stage, confirmed Lens’ impression that here, in the back three of the Central European team’s line up, was an exceptionally precocious talent.
Khusanov showed a sharp turn of pace when playing in a high line, an agility in his interceptions and blocks when close to his own goal. He looked comfortable on the ball and confident and accurate in his passing.
Lens promptly made an approach to the Belarus club Energetik-BGU of Minsk, who had signed Khusanov as an 18-year-old from Bunyodkor of his native Tashkent. The six-figure transfer fee to Lens was agreed.
Very quickly, Lens realised they had achieved a major coup. “We have a 19-year-old who looks more like a player of 25 when he’s on the pitch,” decided the then Lens head coach Franck Haise, after giving Khusanov some run-outs in pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2023/24 season, including a few minutes in a prestige game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
By late autumn, a player with only 37 senior appearances in the Belarus league on his club resume when he came to France was starting in the Uefa Champions League and establishing himself as a regular in Lens’ Ligue 1 line-ups.
“What we saw in him were things we hadn’t expected in someone so young in his position,” said Haise. “He’s tough, he’s calm, he reads the game well and knows how to use the ball.”
There was evidence of his stamina, too. That breakthrough season followed fast on the junior World Cup in Argentina, demanded he adapt rapidly to French football and then at the Asian Cup in Qatar for the senior Uzbekistan team, for which the experienced former UAE coach Srecko Katanec had called him up for his first full caps ahead of the tournament.
Uzbekistan reached the quarter-finals, where, without Khusanov - suspended for collecting two yellow cards across previous matches - Uzbekistan were defeated by the hosts and eventual champions on penalties.
His second season with Lens has projected him still further. By last summer, with the Olympic Games taking place in France, Lens teammates were joking with Khusanov that, so athletic, so strong, and so fast was he that he could represent his country at almost any sport in the Games.
He was involved, but the Uzbek men’s team, defeated by Spain and Egypt, were eliminated at the group phase – a blessing for Lens new head coach Will Still because he had Khusanov ready to take his place in defence earlier than might have been feared in the domestic season.
Still suspected even then that Lens would not be able to keep the player for long, that bids too high, too transformative for the club’s budget to resist would arrive. Real Madrid were linked with the player. So were Newcastle United.
A leading international agent was mandated by the French club to maximise the sale price. An initial aspiration for a fee of some €25m quickly appeared unambitious and the real price would creeping up closer to the fee Manchester United were last summer prepared to pay to another French club, Lille, for 19-year-old centre-back Lenny Yoro.
The modern market has put a premium on defenders who reach early maturity and master a skill-set that elite football expects to be more and more varied, with the emphasis not only on containment but on carrying the ball forward picking precise long passes and switching position.
City have often raised the bar in this respect. They committed an estimated €90m on Josko Gvardiol when he was 21 and at RB Leipzig, identifying the Croatian as a good fit for a system where defenders are expected to fulfill the roles of centre-back and full-back, to push smoothly into midfield.
In the case of Khusanov, or ‘Kodir’ as he’s known to his Lens teammates, there remain some rough edges to iron out, but the view from France is that a long career at the very summit of the club game is all but certain.
As for his international future, there’s a genuine chance he’ll be a star of the first Uzbekistan team to reach a World Cup. In the chase for places at the 2026 tournament, his country currently occupy the second of two automatic qualifying spots in Asian Qualifying Group A. Best placed to leapfrog them are UAE, three points behind Uzbekistan but defeated 1-0 in Tashkent in October. The countries meet again in early June, with Khusanov shaping up as an ever formidable barrier to UAE aspirations.
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
Total eligible population
About 57.5 million people
51.1 million received a jab
6.4 million have not
Where are the unvaccinated?
England 11%
Scotland 9%
Wales 10%
Northern Ireland 14%
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
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- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE%20SWIMMERS
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