World Cup 2018: Top 5 young defenders to watch out for in Russia

#1 Niklas Süle - Germany

Niklas Sule could be the ideal ball-playing centre-back for Joachim Löw's side

The 22-year old German made his Bundesliga debut at a tender age of 17. He rejected a host of Premier League clubs to join Bayern Munich from Hoffenheim last summer, where he played a key role in their top 4 finish.

Süle's as close to the ideal centre-back as you can envision. He's physically strong, extremely good in the air, but also possesses outstanding technique. His passing range is exceptional, and he can be often found starting off attacks.

A right-footed centre-back, Süle typically plays on the right side of a centre-back pairing. Süle is a strong defensive prospect, with his timing in the tackle and reading of the game allowing him to quell dangerous attacks efficiently, looking to step out of defence to nick the ball quickly and lay it off to a team-mate.

He was part of the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, where Germany won the silver medal. His temperament is excellent and he plays with a maturity that belies his tender years. Improving all the time, Süle could go on to become one of the world's best centre-backs.