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Manchester City is currently at the top of their game leading both in the Premier League and in their group in the UEFA Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s men have been rightly lauded for their swashbuckling style of play with games involving the Citizens often averaging more than 2 goals a game.
While the team’s attacking impetus has entranced the watching world, the team’s defensive work has been better than last season’s horror show.
Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, a summer purchase from Benfica has been at the heart of everything good about the City defence with his agility, long kicks, organizational skills and bravery helping to keep the team on the front foot at all times.
The improvement of John Stones and the pace and aggression of new full-backs Kyle Walker & Benjamin Mendy has also helped City attain a better level of defensive solidity.
However, Nicholas Otamendi’s erratic nature, Vincent Kompany’s continued battle with injuries and Eliaquim Mangala’s continued deterioration as a defender means that Manchester City is one injury away from a full-blown defensive crisis.
Pep is said to have told sporting director Txixi Begiristain to get a new centre-back in January as he can no longer rely on Kompany or Mangala leaving Stones and Otamendi as the only wanted centre-backs.
Vincent has been a great servant since his arrival in Manchester in 2008 but a club with the aspirations of Manchester City cannot continue to rely on the occasional fitness of its captain.
#5. Dayotchanculle Upamecano (RB Leipzig)
The 19-year old Frenchman has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium and should fit in perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy of buying young exciting players.
Standing at 1.85cm, the graduate of Valenciennes FC’s youth set up is widely regarded along with OGC Nice player Malang Sarr as one of the most exciting centre-backs in France under the age of 21.
Blessed with pace, good reading of the game as well as an intelligence belied by his years, the youngster has become an integral element of the defence for his German club; RB Leipzig.
Playing alongside captain Willy Orban in the centre of the defence, Dayot has already appeared 8 times for the team in the league this season. He has also featured in all of the team’s three UEFA Champions League games so far.
He was rumoured to be a summer target for Liverpool FC after they failed in their pursuit of Dutchman Virgil van Dijk but the outstanding sporting director of Die Roten Bullen; Ralf Ragnick reportedly scared away Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool scouts with a €100m asking price.
#4. Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough)
The only English player on the list, Gibson was linked with a move to join Manchester City during the summer transfer window but the move never materialized.
A powerful left-footer who is good in the air and has an aggressive style of play typical of the best English centre-backs, Ben is the nephew of Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson.
Long thought of as a future regular for the Three Lions, Gibson should make a competent partner for John Stones and a reliable alternative for the error-prone Otamendi or always-injured Vincent Kompany.
Capable of playing as a left back and possessing the ability to play out from the back, it has been rumoured that the Citizens will look to make a bid for the Middlesbrough vice-captain who was one of the few players to emerge with any credit from Boro’s horrible 2016/2017 Premier League campaign (he played in all the games).
He may cost up to £40m (given his relatively young age of 24 and the normal English player rates) but his versatility will allow Pep to switch between a two-man to a three-man central defensive pairing depending on whatever formation the Catalan gaffer may want to play.
He has been a permanent fixture in the Boro defence in the Championship playing in all 14 games so far as the Smoggies (as Boro are known) languish in midtable.
#3. Lucas Hernández (Atletico Madrid)
One player that had been scouted for a while by Pep Guardiola, Lucas Hernández has the skill set required to become a great defender and alongside younger brother Theo, he has become the object of a tug-of-war between France & Spain as both countries seek to get the Hernández brothers to play for either Les Bleus or La Furia Roja (Aymeric Laporte is also in the same boat).
The 21-year old was said to have been on the verge of a move to City this season in a rumoured €50m move but nothing came of it.
Intelligent, aggressive, possessing a cultured left foot and a good reading of the game, Lucas is a firm favourite of Atleti coach Diego “Cholo” Simeone and seems to have displaced the other defensive protégé in the team, Jose Gimenez.
Lucas is gradually displacing the more experienced pair of Gimenez and Stefan Savic in becoming the preferred centre-back to partner defensive lynchpin Diego Godin (Gimenez’s countryman).
His ability to also function effectively on the left side of the defence has been a plus in his favour as he has a sweet crossing ability though not blessed with blistering pace.
Pep has made no secret of his admiration for the Marseille-born defender and tried to sign him while at Bayern Munich. His versatility and air of unflappability (he made a cameo appearance in the 2016 UCL final against Real Madrid) would bring a reassurance to a Manchester City defence that can look unbalanced under pressure.
#2. Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion)
The most experienced of all the defenders on the list, Evans’ signing would be one meant to bring immediate assurance and short-term solidity to the Manchester City backline.
He was supposed to be a deadline day signing and the last piece of the puzzle for a City side splashing the cash to fix the inadequacies of the previous season but West Brom coach Tony Pulis was unwilling to lose his second most experienced player and new captain following the departure of Darren Fletcher to Stoke City.
The Northern Ireland international saw it all while playing for City’s cross-town rivals; Manchester United and will provide a calm and reassuring presence allowing City’s adventurous full-backs to bomb forward and support the raids of the already formidable forward line.
A natural successor to Vincent Kompany as the elder statesman of the defence, Evans’ experience, aerial ability and command of the defensive area would be a perfect partner for the younger centre-backs; John Stones and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Evans’ Old Trafford connections were mentioned as a possible reason why the Etihad stadium crowd may not warm to the battle-hardened veteran but given the almost inevitable departure of Kompany (Pep is said to have lost all patience with his continued injury run), the defence is in need of an experienced lynchpin and go-to guy to guide the younger defenders aright and provide a stabilizing platform for the team’s all-out attacking style.
Jonny is the perfect player for the team and it is being rumoured that a £25m bid in January would be enough to seal the deal and bring in Premier League experience to the Sky Blues’ backline.
#1. Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
Reportedly the apple of Guardiola’s eye and the one he covets above all others, Laporte has been on the radar of big teams all across Europe since he burst onto the scene under the guidance of maverick coach Marcelo Bielsa in 2012.
Possessing all the characteristics of the great modern defender; ball playing ability, height, aerial presence, keen intelligence and an ability to play as a left back when demanded, Laporte is a player whose ceiling is very high and it is seen as a mark of his loyalty that he is still plying his trade at the Estadio San Mames despite serious interest from teams like Manchester City and FC Barcelona.
Given the long line of quality centre-backs being produced in France (Varane, Umtiti, Kimpembe, Lucas et al), lots of pressure is being put on Laporte and the Hernandez brothers; Lucas and Theo to switch allegiance to Spain so as to be eligible to play for La Furia Roja.
It was widely reported that he had been earmarked to be Pep’s first signing upon his arrival at Man City but to the surprise of everyone, he chose to renew his contract at the Basque club and is now said to have an initial buyout clause of €65m.
This huge amount should not deter a City side that has shown a willingness to spend the big bucks to reinforce its defence and a Laporte-Stones combination will be a superb combination that will serve the club well both in the present and for the long-term.
