These can be the key to solving Manchester City's defensive problems

This season has been quite an underwhelming one for the Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Citizens started this season as the favourites to win their third consecutive Premier League title but in order to do so, they have a monumental 14 points to make up in 22 games, which is not impossible at all but looks to be an uphill task. 

Liverpool are high-flying and have had an almost flawless record in the League while Pep Guardiola's men have already lost four games and looks far from the level they showed in the last two seasons. 

After defeats to Wolves, Norwich City, Liverpool and most recently Manchester United this season, Pep Guardiola's recruitment in the last summer has come under scrutiny and rightly so. 

They had to part ways with long-term skipper of the side Vincent Kompany, which created a big void at the heart of the defence both in terms of quality and number of options. 

Many were skeptical with Guardiola opting to start the season with just three natural central defenders Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nicols Otamendi. And Guardiola has had to pay for it as the Citizens have struggled defensively since they lost their best defender Laporte to an injury that could keep him out till February. 

With the winter transfer window approaching in two weeks, the Citizens should look to reinforce their defence. And, here are three defenders they should look for. 

3. Samuel Umtiti - Barcelona 

The Frenchman was regarded among the best defenders in the world a few years back but injuries have not been kind to him. Due to injuries, he has lost his place in the Barcelona defence to his compatriot Clement Lenglet, who has been excellent for the Blaugrana.  

The World Cup winner with France has played just six games for Barcelona this season and deserves to play a lot more given the talent he has on offering. 

Manchester City should certainly consider the 26-year-old as a candidate to bolster their defence. Umtiti could form a very good partnership with his compatriot Laporte at the Etihad for mnay years to come.  

2. Nathan Ake - Bournemouth 

The Dutch international has been one of the more mentioned names by the rumour mill in the last few months. 

He is arguably the best defender in the Premier League outside the top six and looks really ready for a second chance at a big club. He was shown the exit door by Chelsea too soon back in 2017 and now the Blues are also considering to offer him a return to Stamford Bridge. 

Ake is exactly the kind of defender Pep Guardiola and most modern managers would love in his side. He is athletic and pretty strong and boasts an excellent ability on the ball. 

The Dutchman is a gifted passer of the ball that raises his stock even higher. Just 24 years of age, Ake's ceiling is really really high and Manchester City must make an attempt to sign the Dutchman in January. 

3. Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli 

The Senegalese international has been regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe for quite some time now. 

Despite a strong interest in the 28-year-old from a host of clubs across Europe over the years, Napoli has shown a tremendous resilience in keeping him for so many years but things have changed in the past few months following the feud between the players and the club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis. 

Napoli now look ready to to listen to offers for the towering defender and could sell him for a price around £90m if reports in Italy are to be believed. 

Koulibaly is the best defender Manchester City can sign at the moment and now that Napoli are even willing to listen to offers for the player, the Citizens should break the bank for the former Genk defender and take up their defence to whole another level.

Featured image credits - Marca