The suspension of Premier League football due to the coronavirus pandemic may have left clubs with a bit of unexpected extra time on their hands.
Plans will already be in place ahead of the summer transfer window, although there is still uncertainty about how it will work this year.
However, the extra time could mean that clubs start to step up their interest in potential targets.
Centre-back is an area that Manchester City could target in the off-season, with the club never replacing club legend Vincent Kompany after his departure at the end of last season.
The injury to Aymeric Laporte left City short on defensive options, with Fernandinho taking up a centre-back role for the majority of the season while John Stones has been in and out of the starting lineup.
In order to close the gap on Liverpool next season, Guardiola is likely to look to strengthen his backline during the summer.
But who has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium so far ahead of the transfer window opening?
Here is a list of the defenders that the rumour mill has linked with City recently.
Dayot Upamecano
The RB Leipzig centre-back is one player who is likely to attract a lot of interest in the summer. The 21-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga since his arrival in 2017.
France Football claim that Man City are one of five teams interested in bringing the defender to the Premier League next season.
Upamecano has just one year remaining on his contract, meaning that he could also be available for a cut-price deal.
Milan Skriniar
Calciomercato report that City are expected to make an attempt to sign the Slovakian defender when the window opens.
It is reported that the centre-back will only be available for an offer of around £62 million to £70 million.
This has caused City to consider offering Inter a player swap deal to try and persuade Antonio Conte to part with his player.
Caglar Soyuncu
Soyuncu has impressed in the Premier League this season after he stepped into the shoes of Harry Maguire in the middle of Leicester City’s defence with the Foxes currently sitting in third place in the table behind Liverpool and City.
The Turkish international was linked with Man City in January, but Bleacher Report claim that Pep Guardiola is still keeping a close eye on the player.
City are also keeping an eye on Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White, according to the Athletic.
White has impressed on loan at Championship club Leeds United during the 2019/20 season, and the Whites are likely to be keen to make the move permanent.
It is claimed that Guardiola is eyeing the Brighton man as a potential replacement for John Stones.
Kalidou Koulibaly
La Repubblica report that both Man City and Man Utd are in a three-team race for the Napoli defender alongside French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Koulibaly’s season has been affected by injury this campaign with the Senegal international missing the last three matches before the league suspension with a thigh injury.
It is reported that the defender will cost in the region of £87.2 million this summer.
It is reported by Bleacher Report that Diaz is one of three defenders, alongside Soyuncu and Koulibaly, who Man City are keeping a close eye on ahead of the transfer window.
Dias was again linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium during the January transfer window after impressing in Portugal with Benfica this season.
Jonathan Tah
The Express think the Bayer Leverkusen defender is one of City’s main targets in the summer.
It is claimed that the club have been watching the German international all season and believe that he would be able to adapt to the Premier League quickly.
Leonardo Bonucci
The Juventus defender is another defensive option being monitored by Man City, according to Calciomercato.
However, it is claimed that any move for the Italian would be difficult to complete due to Juve’s unwillingness to sell the player who has four years remaining on his contract.
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