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Manchester City have a number of centre-backs in different teams that are worth monitoring this season as the Blues look to the future
Manchester City were very clear when they spent £175m in January that it was for the future of the club as much as the present. Omar Marmoush was brought in to have an immediate impact on a team struggling to stay afloat in the top-four race and Nico Gonzalez played his part, but the investment was largely for the future.
Spending £68m on three young centre-backs is certainly a way to show that, as is the fact that only one of those defenders remains in Manchester for this season. Abdukodir Khusanov is part of Pep Guardiola's plans and will battle it out with John Stones, Ruben Dias and the rest for a place in the first team.
Elsewhere, it is worth keeping an eye on the other two. Vitor Reis is expected to get plenty of game time with Girona this season in La Liga, while Juma Bah has stayed in the French league after his January move but upgraded from Lens to Nice.
A step below those two, City believed that they had the best two centre-backs at Under-21 level last season in England as they topped their league and then won the knockout phase of the Premier League 2. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has gone on loan to Celtic for the season while Max Alleyne will be testing himself in the Championship with Watford.
Go down further and Stephen Mfuni continues to impress in the academy. The 17-year-old is seen as a player who has the potential to make the first team under Guardiola and could see some opportunities as the season goes on.
He looked imperious at the back as City Under-21s started their EFL Trophy run in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 victory over Oldham on Tuesday night. As well as an imposing defensive performance, he also made the first goal with a run through midfield before a defence-splitting pass to create the space for Mahamadou Sangare to score.
City are not short of quality at centre-back, with Ruben Dias signing a new four-year deal, John Stones back from injury and Josko Gvardiol not yet in his prime years. Nathan Ake is likely to stay part of the first team plans this season, even if Manu Akanji could leave in the final days of the window.
As they help Guardiola though, there is no shortage of exciting potential from those coming through at the club to monitor as the season progresses. Between the £68m spend in January and the players coming through the academy, City could be set in central defence for many years to come.
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