Which defender are you hoping your team will sign in January…
World class defenders appeared to be at a premium this summer, and the distinct shortage in signings resulted in both Arsenal and Manchester United being left short at the back.
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Arsenal’s injury crisis has crippled their already limited options, and has led to manager Arsene Wenger to even consider several potential free agent signings who could be a stop-gap solution.
Manchester United missed out on the likes of Mats Hummels and Thomas Vermaelen this summer, and their lack of a world class centre back has been exposed on several occasions already this season, no more so than in Sunday’s 5-3 thrashing by Premier League new boys Leicester City.
Here are ten options that could be solving a defensive crisis come January:
10) Dani Alves (Barcelona)
The veteran full-back is well aware that his contract at Barcelona is expiring at the end of the season, and has resigned himself to leaving. Could be a more than useful addition for a Premier League team, especially Man United, who won’t have been impressed with Rafael on Sunday.
9) Joel Matip (Schalke)
The 23-year-old Cameroonian international has bags of potential, and has regularly impressed for Schalke over the last couple of years. The German club have owned the player since 2000 – when the player joined the club’s academy at the age of nine.
8) Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City)
An experienced and proved Premier League defender who needs a big move to boost his England chances. The 26-year-old has played in excess of 200 top flight games for the Potters since graduating from Manchester United’s academy.
7) Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
Another exciting young talent produced by Bilbao, for whom the 20-year-old Frenchman has made 53 La Liga appearances, dating back to his debut in 2012. An experienced youth international, Laporte will certainly be a name to look out for in the future wherever he plays.
6) John Stones (Everton)
He may have played just 24 times in the Premier League for Everton, but the former Barnsley man is already a four-time England international, and has been nothing but impressive so far in his career. The 20-year-old is surely going to be a cornerstone of the Three Lions team for years to come.
5) Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund)
The 26-year-old Greek is by no means first choice with the German giants due to the presence of Hummels and Subotic, and could perhaps be tempted into a move elsewhere. A regular at international level, who scored for his country at the World Cup this summer.
4) Mateo Musacchio (Villareal)
Highly experienced considering he is still only 24. He has played well over 100 league games for Villareal, for whom he made his debut in 2010, and has been capped twice by Argentina.
3) Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
An impressive defender for Aston Villa since joining from Feyenoord in 2012, but it is for the Netherlands that the 29-year-old truly made his mark, with a series of impressive performances coming during this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
2) Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Both Godin, and his Atletico centre-back Miranda would be of interest to many teams. Godin is at the peak of his powers at the age of 28, and was highly impressive in leading the Madrid-based side to La Liga glory and the Champions League final last season.
1) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
The World Cup winning German is understandably rated as one of the best defenders in the world, having been a regular for his club since 2009. Still only 25, he has time to grow and develop, and would be the dream signing for any European giant.
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