Angelo Ogbonna: Scouting the Rumoured Bayern, Man Utd and Liverpool Target

From Claudio Gentile to Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi to Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta, Italian defenders have enjoyed an unparalleled reputation for quality for decades. Although the names currently in the Azzuri squad do not quite command the same awe and respect as those past masters above, there is also a budding young generation hoping to reach those heights. 

Among this group, Torino's 24-year-old centre back Angelo Ogbonna is knocking on the door harder than most. 

Ogbonna was born and raised in Italy to Nigerian parents, and for the last four years has been a permanent fixture in the middle of the Toro defence. This prodigious rise to fame has not gone unnoticed. The youngster is set to be one of the names to watch in the coming transfer window, with some of the top clubs in Europe rumoured to be keeping close tabs on him. 

The player himself admitted in a recent interview with Tuttomercato that he was flattered by interest from Manchester United, while The Express maintained that Arsenal and Liverpool were following his progress. The English trio could face strong competition, however; according to talkSPORT, Bundesliga winners and Champions League finalists Bayern Munich are also considering a bid. 

But is Ogbonna ready for such a big step up in class? 

Certainly, the Italian is a big talent. Standing 6'2" he is a big, traditional central defender, strong in the air and an imposing figure in the penalty area. Although a grand total of one goal throughout his entire career does not exactly point to a centre back who can impose from set pieces, Ogbonna is rarely beaten for a header. 

His physicality, however, is not his defining characteristic. What really marks Ogbonna out from other young defensive hopefuls is a phenomenal reading of the game, reminiscent of stars past such as Nesta and Maldini. These legends often did not have to make the tackle, using their anticipation to cut off an attack before the ball even reached the area.

The Italo-Nigerian so coveted across Europe has this particular attribute in spades, and regularly records several interceptions in a single game, making him a leader in this particular defensive statistic. There is also no question over his loyalty; previous big-money moves to other Italian clubs purported by the local press have been rejected by Ogbonna, another factor that plays heavily in his favour. 

There are still question marks over whether the young star has what it takes to adapt from a smaller, counter-attacking team such as Torino to an institution who play primarily on the front foot, meaning a greater pressure is shifted to the defence who are more exposed when the ball does break. England and Germany, moreover, place a far higher importance on mobility and pace than in Italy; Marco Materazzi, for one, is an example of a quality defender who failed to adapt to the Premier League, and it would be a baptism of fire for our subject. 

All indications, however, suggest that Ogbonna is the real deal. Physical yet intelligent, quick on his feet and even quicker in reading the game, the 24-year-old prospect represents an equally intelligent gamble for Europe's best, as he prepares to become the focus of attention in the coming transfer window. 

He may not come cheap—a bid of up to €19 million may be necessary to tempt the Granata, according to Goal.com—but the potential is there. Be it Bayern, Manchester United, Liverpool or whoever, Ogbonna could well turn out to be money very well spent. 

Daniel is a football journalist based in Buenos Aires, who specialises in covering the South American game. You can follow him on twitter at @DanEdwardsGoal