Manchester City: 10 Central Defensive January Targets for Roberto Mancini

Manchester City have a deep, talented squad.

Roberto Mancini has the luxury of picking his starting eleven for each match from a plethora of talent.

Manchester City were top at Christmas for the first time in around 80 years and despite bowing out of the UEFA Champions League early, look set for success in some form this season.

What can Roberto Mancini add to his squad this month to give the Blues the edge? A new centre-back in my opinion.

Kolo Toure's expiration date reads 05/2012. Can the Italian tactician genuinely consider Joleon Lescott as the centre-back to win City a Champions League title?

Gary Cahill

It seems like Gary Cahill is soon to become a Chelsea player and what a great signing he will be for the London-based club considering the estimated £5million fee.

He's been a bit off this season, but let's not pick at individual performances considering the Bolton Wanderers have been, as a collective, extremely poor this season.

But why aren't Manchester City pursuing this one? £5million is a pittance for a player of Cahill's quality. There should be three or four more clubs chancing their hand at signing him.

Adil Rami

Adil Rami has been making impressive steps in his career.

He is currently flying high with an in-form Valencia side in La Liga having already won the French double with Lille.

He represents yet another talented Lille player who has used the French club as a springboard for success. Gervinho and Yohan Cabaye did it. Eden Hazard isn't far from doing it.

He's picked up several caps for the France national team and has established himself in Laurent Blanc's new look French side.

Benedikt Howedes

The first of two German defensive stalwarts.

Benedikt Howedes is the captain of Schalke 04 and is a very accomplished player. He's picked up just a handful of international caps but he's due many more.

Howedes is a huge figure in the centre of defence. He is the typical solid German centre-back, possessing the mental abilities to be one of the very best.

Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels, the second of the two stalwarts.

If I were Roberto Mancini, I'd be tempted to try and sign both. It would certainly provide him with a conundrum in selecting his team, but a good one at that.

Hummels is an able player on the ball and can be pushed into defensive midfield if necessary, meaning his value is even higher.

Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga last season with a series of stunning performances. They've an excellent crop of players but must be wary.

They could be the next Lille.

Thiago Silva

The most unlikely of the list, but if it did happen it would push Manchester City into the elite echelon of clubs.

It would be incredibly difficult to acquire Thiago Silva's services or even persuade him. His future lies anywhere other than the San Siro.

But if it were to happen, the Premier League title race would tilt heavily in the Citizen's favour.

Christopher Samba

It baffles most followers of the English Premier League as to how Christopher Samba is still a Blackburn Rovers player.

The guy is clearly a defensive monster who wreaks havoc in both boxes. Samba alongside Scott Dann is a very good defensive pairing, one that shouldn't have let in as many goals as it has this season.

It has got to be a matter of time before he moves on and there would be plenty of suitors. Tottenham have certainly tried their luck a few times in the past.

Kader Mangane

Similar to Christopher Samba, Kader Mangane is also a monster.

So much so that his reputation isn't fantastic. He committed a horrendous challenge several seasons ago resulting in a double leg fracture.

He supposedly gets booed at every ground in France for that challenge and must be desperate for a way to escape that.

Dirtiness is not a predominant feature of his game, compare him to Ryan Shawcross if you will, so he should be an attractive signing for plenty of top clubs.

Phil Jagielka

Phil Jagielka has been going about his business as per usual this season yet again.

He is quietly effective and is not often given the right degree of praise. He was also the subject of a bid this summer from Arsenal, showing at least one manager believes he is UEFA Champions League quality.

When performing for England against Spain at Wembley last year he was phenomenal alongside Joleon Lescott. Didn't that get the alarm bells ringing for Roberto Mancini?

Ryan Shawcross

Hands up if your'e surprised Ryan Shawcross is still at Stoke City.

While Stoke have been impressive in going about establishing themselves as a top-tier English football club, most thought they'd lose Shawcross long before now.

Instead he is the captain of the football club and a solid, stand-out performer at the Britannia Stadium.

I personally thought he'd be taken to Chelsea to partner John Terry but since Gary Cahill may take that role, Ryan Shawcross would be a very decent signing for Manchester City.

Jan Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen, captain of Ajax, could be viewed as a slightly cheaper version of Mats Hummels.

He is quick, strong, good in the air and good on the ball. A centre-back by trade but capable in midfield, Jan Vertonghen would also benefit from a potential Belgian connection with Vincent Kompany.

Vertonghen is young enough to, if recruited by Roberto Mancini, form a solid partnership with Kompany for years and years to come.