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

#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.