PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are in the hunt for centre backs this summer with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool among those on the look out.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side has made finding a permanent partner to Harry Maguire his priority with question marks surrounding Victor Lindelof and injury-prone Eric Bailly.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel meanwhile is drawing up a shortlist of candidates to act as Thiago Silva’s long-term successor.
Liverpool are also expecting to be actively searching for squad depth in central defence after their numerous injury woes this season.
But which centre-backs are available this summer? SunSport takes a look…
David Alaba
The Austrian defender, 28, is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer and looks set to leave for nothing.
His versatility and trophy-winning experience are valuable attributes to Prem clubs with Chelsea and Liverpool both linked with moves.
However, Real Madrid look set to secure his services with a four-year contract understood to be agreed.
SunSport recently revealed that Chelsea have pulled out of the race to sign Alaba due to his £400,000-a-week wage demands.
Dayot Upamecano
The 22-year-old is hot property with the centre-back set to leave RB Leipzig for a bargain £38million this summer.
Upamecano is eyed as a long-term successor to Thiago Silva who turns 37 later this year but could be in store for a new contract.
Chelsea are said to have already opened talks with the player’s agent to start laying the groundwork over a summer switch.
Yet Bayern Munich have targeted Upamecano as the man to replace Alaba, while United and Arsenal have also been linked with moves.
Kalidou Koulibaly
The Napoli defender was close to a move to Manchester City last year before Pep Guardiola landed Ruben Dias from Benfica.
Local rivals United are now reportedly among the European clubs hoping to finally be the ones to prize Koulibaly away from Serie A.
But a major stumbling block could be Napoli’s £100m valuation of their star defender – who is under contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.
The 29-year-old Senegalese, who has also been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, is said to have held talks with Chelsea last year.
Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid’s formidable captain is another European powerhouse defender who is out of contract in the summer.
Ramos, 34, reportedly wanted to join United in January after a chat with ex-Red David Beckham.
But Los Blancos president Florentino Perez advised the World Cup winner to accept an offer from Paris Saint-Germain if it was on the table.
Ramos, who has also been capped an incredible 178 times by Spain, has led Real to numerous trophies including five LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
Raphael Varane
Real Madrid could be set for a double blow with French World Cup winner Varane another defender linked with a move away.
The 27-year-old has entered the final 18 months of his contract at the Bernabeu and has yet to commit his future to the LaLiga giants.
United and Chelsea are reportedly involved in a four-way tussle with PSG and Juventus for Madrid star Varane.
The Red Devils’ interest in the defender has stretched back to 2019 when he first considered walking away from the Bernabeu.
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