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#3 Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham Hotspur have replaced Toby Alderweireld with talented Argentina defender Cristian Romero this summer. The 23-year-old was a key cog for Atalanta last season, and then for Argentina in their victorious Copa America 2021 campaign.
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Romero is a typical modern-day centre-back who can play the ball out from the back, and is also adept with his defending.
What’s notable is that Romero was part of a three-at-the-back system at Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini, and is expected to play in a similar system at Tottenham.
Although Spurs played a back four in pre-season, the back three is an option, one that could perhaps suit Romero more.
#2 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias had a stunning debut campaign for Manchester City, and was a key figure at the back for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning side last campaign.
Manchester City went from a porous unit at the back to one of the most assured defences in the Premier League in a matter of just months last season, after Dias' arrival.
Dias, who moved to Manchester City for a fee of around £60 million, took a while to settle into the pace and physicality of the Premier League. But once he did that, he was key in the way Manchester City played.
The Portuguese passed the ball with verve, and used his 1.86-meter frame to good effect, as he didn’t let strikers have it all their way. Dias won the FWA Footballer of the Year award for his exploits last season, and will want to prove that he is not a one-season wonder.
#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk played just five games last season after not missing even a single game in the 2019-19 and 2019-20 Premier League seasons. Liverpool struggled big time in his absence and struggled to hold their own despite using several defensive pairings during the course of the campaign.
Van Dijk’s presence at the back makes Liverpool a more complete team. His ability to spray passes speeds up their build-up play, and he is often a towering presence against more direct teams.
Liverpool were one of the meanest teams in Europe with Van Dijk at the back, so his return could make them title contenders next season. But the question is, can he get back to his best after such a long and debilitating injury?
