Premier League 2019-20: 5 centre-backs Manchester City could target in January

Things are far from perfect in the blue half of Manchester. Pep Guardiola would probably be wishing for a time machine that could help fix the problems his team is currently facing. His refusal to pursue a deal for a centre-back to replace iconic captain, Vincent Kompany has come back to haunt the team big time.

Manchester City is currently trailing leaders Liverpool by eight points, just eight games into the season. This was not expected to happen given the strength of the Cityzens who have won the last two titles in record-breaking fashion.

Injuries to first-choice centre-back, Aymeric Laporte and Englishman John Stones as well as the terrible form of Nicolas Otamendi may force Manchester City to go into the market during the January.

Here is a look at some of the possible targets the club could be looking at.

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#5 Nathan Ake (Bournemouth)

Nathan Ake looks tailor made for the Cityzens.

A natural fit for a team coached by Guardiola, Nathan Ake's journey from being a Chelsea loanee to a Premier League regular has been fascinating. His hair may be Ruud Gullit-esque but he plays with a style akin to another Dutch legend; current Oranje manager, Ronald Koeman.

Ake has proven to be one of the better ball-playing centre-backs in the Premier League. He relies more on intelligence to make timely interceptions rather than brawn, not unlike Laporte.

The Dutchman has been ever-present in the heart of Eddie Howe's defence since he joined permantly for £20 million three seasons ago.

Given his Premier League-readiness and style, Ake isn't an unknown quantity. His poise and passing would add calmness to the City back-line in a way that Kompany used to. He is not afraid to get stuck in and make a tackle as well. He has all it takes to help the Cityzens stabilise at the back.

Ake will not come cheap though. Already, rumours linking him to the defending Premier League champions are mentioning a staggering £80m fee.

#4 Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)

Manchester City could trump Arsenal to the signature of the French starlet.

Dayot Upamecano has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium before and should fit in perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy.

Alongside fellow young French defenders, Ibrahima Konate and Nordi Mukiele, Upamecano has been integral at the back for rising Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig.

Blessed with pace, good reading of the game as well as an intelligence beyond his years, the youngster has the potential to become a top defender under the right tutelage.

While he is not the tallest of centre-backs, Upamecano is very good in the air and is not often bullied by opponents. His pace over short distances makes him ideal for defending in Guardiola's system where the centre-backs are expected to provide defensive cover once the full-backs push high up the pitch.

Arsenal has been heavily linked with a move for Upamecano but the allure of continuing to play in the UEFA Champions League and the chance to earn more while playing for one of the world's best coaches may nudge him towards the Cityzens.

#3 Ruben Dias (SL Benfica)

Ruben Dias could provide good competition for John Stones.

Ruben Dias is perhaps the best young centre-back to emerge from Portugal for a while now. He now looks to have outgrown the familiar environment at Benfica and seems ready for the step up to one of Europe's giants.

Calm and assured with an eye for a pass alongside good man-marking abilities, Dias’ confidence on the ball will work wonders for him if he ever makes the move to a bigger club.

He has added more physicality to his game in the last two seasons and has become difficult to push off the ball in recent times.

While Dias shares an innate sense of taking responsibility like the legendary Fernando Couto, he differs from the great man in his style of play. He is more aligned to the cultured style of players like Gerard Pique rather than the thou-shall-not-pass motto of contemporary Portuguese centre-backs like Pepe, Bruno Alves and Jose Fonte among others.

This makes him ideal for the City back-line, who need plenty of confidence in possession. Dias will come with a hefty cost given that he is now a full-fledged starter for Portugal.

#2 Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan)

Milan Skriniar could be a difference-maker for City.

One of the most highly-rated centre-backs in European football, Milan Skriniar has rapidly become one of the most admired defenders in football.

Possessing the characteristics of the world's top central defenders, the Slovakian has shone like a million stars even during an underachieving period for his club.

Calm on the ball with a strong ability to pass, Skriniar is fantastic in the air and fleet-footed across short distances. This has helped him perform well either as the right-sided centre-back in a three-man back-line or as a right-back on certain occasions.

Intelligence is a big part of his game as he can be relied on to snuff out danger with a well-timed tackle or interception before it becomes a goalscoring opportunity. Inter manager, Antonio Conte has sung high praises for the 24-year-old and he is a key part of the new team being assembled by the Nerazzurri.

He would be a great complement to the ball-playing pair of Laporte/Stones and a definite upgrade over the error-prone Otamendi.

Skriniar carries with him a sizeable price tag. A figure of £53m has been quoted though an actual fee is expected to be way higher than this.

#1 Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur)

Toby Alderweireld could add the experience that City has missed since Vincent Kompany's departure.

Experienced, Premier League tested, cheaper than the other options and willing to move. Toby Alderweireld ticks all the boxes for Manchester City.

While he has had a torrid season so far (just like the entire Tottenham Hotspur team), he remains one of the best defenders in the division.

The Belgian centre-back will leave Spurs in the summer when his contract expires. In fact, under transfer rules, he is free to sign a pre-contract with any club in January

Alderweireld has been among the top defenders in world football for about four seasons now and given his rumoured release clause of £25m, it would make sense for Spurs to let him go in January for a fee.

Rugged, strong and possessing a sense for making immaculately timed tackles, the 30-year-old has often been described as the Belgian equivalent of Sergio Ramos without the occasional red mist.

He is an accomplished leader of men and could step in immediately to marshal the team's defence, something Nicolas Otamendi has failed to do with assurance.

In addition to being world-class defensively, he is also very capable of opening up opposing teams with his range of passing. Alderweireld would be a perfect stop-gap signing to replace Kompany while leaving room for the young ones like Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to develop.