#centre-backs

#centre-backs

Pep Guardiola's side have suffered a real injury crisis of late, particularly at centre-back, and that has been a factor in their falling off the pace in the Premier League title race. City are now six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal at the top. They are without three key central defenders - Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones - with the trio all ruled out long-term.

Everyone loves a bargain and the potential pool of free agents whose current deals are set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign will be constantly assessed in the coming months. Once January comes around, any players in the final months of their contracts will be able to talk to overseas teams and there are a number of big-name players for whom the clock is ticking.

Choosing the best centre-backs in the world is a difficult task. Often, the best defenders do the least amount of work. And that in its own right is a skill.