Football News: Top 10 Centre-Backs

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Top 10 Centre-Backs

10. William Saliba - AS Saint-Etienne

Just beat Benjamin Pavard out for the final slot, due to the fact Pavard plays so often at full-back these days. Saliba looks like a bargain for Arsenal, though not having him there this season is clearly costing them badly with their inept defence, he does give Gooners a bright future to look forward to.

9. Milan Skriniar - Inter Milan

Skriniar lacks pace but he has shown an ability to defend that has led to him being the subject of a number of songs from Inter fans, who refer to him as their brick wall in the defence. He is also a very good player on the ball, making him an outstanding player for the modern era. All he lacks is the pace to be competing in the top 5.

8. Jan Vertonghen - Tottenham Hotspur

Though he has not been always been at his best this season, at times he has been incredible and over the last few years Vertonghen has clearly been amongst the best central defenders around. Being left-footed makes him especially valuable, as so few are. His biggest weakness is his lack of height, he does struggle against a big, strong, target man.

7. Jonathan Tah - Bayer 04 Leverkusen

He has been playing particularly well this season though he is not as good on the ball as some are, he is better defensively than most. Though their form has slipped of late, he was a big part of the reason they were competitive early in the season.

6. Jose Gimenez - Atletico Madrid

Despite losing Godin's guidance, Gimenez is still showing himself to be an excellent defender, though not at the level of his old team-mate at his best. However he is better on the ball and has more pace, enabling the team to play a higher line. Still young enough to have plenty of scope for improvement as well.

5. Ibrahima Konate - RB Leipzig

One of a couple of young centre-backs at the German club that always impress me, the other, Dayot Upamecano, just, and I do mean just, missed out on a place in this list. They are an excellent partnership, though still growing together. Konate just seems to be playing that bit better whenever I see them play. There is not much in it, as there was little to choose between most of the players in this list, and a couple that just missed out as well.

4. Toby Alderweireld - Tottenham Hotspur

One of those players that always seems to be in the right place when called upon. He also has an excellent range of passing from the back, with good technique on the ball. Added to that, he has been a very capable right-back and defensive midfielder in the past. Alderweireld's biggest issue is the team around him, other than his fellow Belgian Vertonghen.

3. Leonardo Bonucci - Juventus

One of the all-time great defenders, but coming to the end of his career now, Bonucci is still a top class defender. His return to Juventus has significantly improved them, as well as reviving his career just as it looked to be over.

2. Aymeric Laporter - Manchester City

There is a reason why Man City were able to get away with overloading on the attack and leaving themselves open at the back when Laporte was fit. He was it. Laporte is one of, if not the, most underrated defenders in the world. It is astonishing that he is not a regular for his country, at least when fit, as he is defensively solid and good on the ball.

1. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool

An easy decision, especially with Laporte being injured for such a lengthy period, as van Dijk has been head and shoulders above the rest of the world's central defenders since signing for LFC. Physically and technically he has always been pretty much as good as it is possible to be, but he has added a mental edge to his game as well. Arguably the best player in any position in the world right now.

Written by Tris Burke January 18 2020 21:42:04