3 centre backs who could move to Manchester City in the January transfer window

It has been a humbling Premier League campaign for the defending champions Manchester City so far, as they find themselves playing catchup to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool so early in the campaign.

A 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield has opened up a ginormous points gap between the champions and the potential usurpers, therefore, the City hierarchy will be looking to plug gaps in the squad when the pit stop that is the January transfer window arrives.

Guardiola's squad has been decimated by injuries this term, as injuries across the backline has meant the Spanish gaffer has had to paper the cracks for much of the campaign so far.

Aymeric Laporte faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Oleksandr Zinchenko is injured, Benjamin Mendy has been continually on and off the treatment table, John Stones has not been at his best since his return from injury, and the club is yet to replace Vincent Kompany at the heart of the defence.

The Manchester club has suffered defeat on 3 occasions so far this season, and the common thread has been the lack of defensive cohesion. In this article, we discuss three potential defensive players City could sign to plug the bothersome leakage at the back.

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#3 Ruben Dias (Benfica)

Ruben Dias in action for Benfica

Ruben Dias has been touted in many circles as a potential January signing for Manchester City. The 22-year-old has been linked to Manchester United in recent times as well, and it is also believed Wolverhampton Wanderers' Nuno Espirito Santo is keen on bringing his compatriot to the Molineux.

Dias has been delivering impressive performances at the heart of Benfica's defence since his first-team debut in 2017, and that has seen the Dragons slap a €66 million release clause on him.

The 22-year-old has a contract till 2024, and it is rumoured the Portuguese club is keen to increase his release clause to €90 million in a bid to ward off his English suitors as well as present his value more accurately. The price tag is unlikely to deter Man City from making a move.

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#2 Nathan Ake (Bournemouth)

Nathan Ake - The Dutchman has been garnering rave reviews

The former Chelsea defender has been getting plenty of plaudits at the heart of the Bournemouth FC defence, and this is a move which looks easy on the eye. He was linked with a summer transfer to the Etihad, and with the current defensive crisis at City, Pep Guardiola is likely to make a move for the homegrown talent.

Ake was initially sent on loan to Bournemouth, however, he sealed a permanent move to the South Coast club in 2017 after a standout season. He's represented Bournemouth in 103 games, scored 10 goals, and provided 5 assists so far.

He is currently valued at £40 million, but with reports over the summer that the Cherries demanded an £80 million transfer fee when Leicester City came calling, the Citizens may be required to fork out a very large sum.

#1 Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)

Napoli's defensive stalwart, Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly is certainly one of the most impressive defenders in world football, therefore, he comes with a mammoth transfer tag attached, as well as a long list of potential suitors.

He was named Serie A's best defender last season, as the Naples club garnered 14 clean sheets, finishing runners up to Juventus for the second season running.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently admitted to refusing a £91 million bid for his prized possession last summer. However, the landscape has changed, with Napoli struggling this term and Koulibaly reportedly having to hire bodyguards to protect his family from Napoli ultras.

The player is contracted till 2023, but City could get the Senegalese international for a cut-price deal of £69 million, with Koulibaly seemingly looking for a way out of Naples. However, the defender has recently reiterated his desire to stay at the Italian club in a tweet stating;

'This is where my children were born. This is where I grew up as a man and a player. This is where my family and I feel at home.' #Napoli

Qui sono nati i miei figli.Qui sono cresciuto come uomo e come calciatore.Qui, la mia famiglia e io ci sentiamo a casa.💙 #Napoli pic.twitter.com/E7p7u1skvG

— Koulibaly Kalidou (@kkoulibaly26) November 16, 2019