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3. Salif Sane
Another highly talented center-back plying his trade in the Bundesliga is the Senegal international, Salif Sane. The 28-year-old moved to Schalke 04 in 2018 for a reported fee of €7m and since then has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league.
The Senegalese is a no-nonsense defender with exceptional aerial abilities and physical strength, averaging 1.2 interceptions per game with a 69.2% success rate in duels this season. Apart from his aerial and physical supremacy, the defender is also an excellent reader of the game and is responsible for initiating the proceedings from the back.
The 6'4" defender has played a crucial role in the resurgence of the Die Knappen under the new manager David Wagner, contributing to 3 goals and keeping 3 clean sheets. His fine form was put to a halt after sustaining a knee injury in November, but he is expected to return in March and will prove to be an important addition to Wagner's squad.
