5 centre-backs Manchester City should be targetting in January

#3. Lucas Hernández (Atletico Madrid)

Powerful and intelligent, Lucas would be a great addition to the City backline

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.