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#3 Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule is set to leave the club in the summer as a free agent. According to Bayern Munich chief Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Sule never really hit the heights expected of him at the club.
The 26-year-old has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, according to Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.
Irrespective of that, Manchester United are trying to sign Sule in the next two years. He could be a great fit for the Premier League. Bringing him in this summer will be almost impossible now that he has an agreement with Dortmund.
However, Manchester United ought to keep tabs on him and try to engineer a deal for him in the near future. He is a well-rounded centre-back who is excellent at making tackles and harrying opponents, qualities that Harry Maguire has not come close to exhibiting in recent times.
Sule also has plenty of experience playing in a high backline, which is something Ralf Rangnick wants to implement at Manchester United. His ball progression skills are on point and he will definitely be a major upgrade on Harry Maguire.
#2 Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus)
Juventus are reportedly planning a major squad overhaul this summer. Massimiliano Allegri already made strides in that direction during the January transfer window. The Juventus manager wants to assemble a set of players who can help them get back to the level they hit under his first spell.
The Bianconeri are reportedly open to the idea of selling De Ligt in the summer. The Dutchman joined Juventus in 2019 from Ajax on a deal worth €75 million. The move hasn't really gone according to plan and it looks like he has stagnated in Turin.
The 22-year-old has garnered attention from the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona as well. Juventus will be more than happy to spark a bidding war between all the European giants who are interested in signing De Ligt.
As a result, he won't be available for cheap but then again, money wasn't a problem when Manchester United went for Maguire. So why shouldn't they do it for a younger, more promising centre-back?
But De Ligt is viewed as one of the best modern centre-backs in the business. He is also just 22 and has his entire career ahead of him. If Manchester United are willing to invest for the long-term, there are few better options than the former Ajax captain.
#1 Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
Antonio Rudiger is one of the best centre-backs in the world right now. After being in the doghouse at Chelsea under Frank Lampard, Rudiger earned back his place in the starting XI in the most convincing manner. He has been fundamental to Chelsea's improvement over the course of the last year.
The German international is a belligerent defender who is blessed with blistering pace and technical ability. He is a hard-tackling centre-back who is not afraid to get in the way of anything and is someone who fights for the badge until the final whistle is blown.
The Blues will and should try everything to keep him, but if the 28-year-old's wage demands are too high, they might let him go for free in the summer. If he becomes a free agent this summer, it's a no-brainer. Manchester United will be difficult to break down, with Raphael Varane and Rudiger protecting their defensive third.
