FC Barcelona Transfer Rumours: 5 Centre-Backs Barca Need

As infallible as FC Barcelona are, one position they could shore up in the January transfer window is centre-back.

Gerard Pique is one of the best central defenders in the world, but besides the former Manchester United star, Barca don't have many other options in that area, with Carles Puyol not capable of an injury-free season and Andreu Fontas clearly not having the full backing of Pep Guardiola.

Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano are also able players at centre-back. But if Barcelona want to maintain their status at the best in the world, it seems like a world class central defender is necessary.

Here are five centre-backs FC Barcelona need.

Iñigo Martínez

According to reports (in Spanish), FC Barcelona are keeping tabs on Real Sociedad centre-back Iñigo Martínez.

The 20-year-old Spain U21 international has been in fine form this season and has been the rock in the defence that has helped keep his team afloat in La Liga so far.

Martínez has won 18 tackles this term at a rate of 1.8 per game, which is more than any Barca centre-back, and has also made more key interceptions than any FC Barcelona player, with 30 this season, at a rate of three per match.

On top of that, Martínez also has a 62 percent aerial duel success rate and is also a playmaking defender in the Barca mould, making around 50 passes per game, and he has hit 77 accurate long balls this season.

A player for the long-term who can make an immediate impact in the short term, Iñigo Martínez would be a great signing for Barca. The only issue, however, is can he handle the pressure at the Camp Nou?

Thiago Silva

AC Milan centre-back Thiago Silva has long been linked with FC Barcelona, and he is an obvious choice on the list.

Here's why.

Having won 13 tackles this season at a rate of 1.6 per game, the Brazil international is statistically a better tackler than any Barca centre-back.

He's also better in the air than any defender of Barcelona's, with a 78 percent aerial duel success rate, which, relative to the amount of aerial duels contested, ranks better than any Barca defender.

He also cuts out more opposition play when defending in the final third than any FC Barcelona player, making three key interceptions per game, the majority of which are in that area.

Silva is also better at clearing his lines than any Barcelona player, making 4.8 effective clearances per match.

This wouldn't mean much, as Barca always pass their way out of trouble. But considering he can do it the Barcelona way, making on average 62 passes per match, it's clear the 27-year-old would perhaps be the perfect ready-made solution for Barcelona at centre-back.

Mehdi Benatia

A player heavily linked with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, as opposed to FC Barcelona, Mehdi Benatia has been the key to his Udinese team, conceding just three goals in Serie A this season.

The 24-year-old Moroccan international is another player with the statistics to out-rank Barcelona's defenders, and he has been in really impressive form so far this campaign.

Perhaps out of any defender featured in this article (except Iñigo Martínez), he could be the most suited to Barca, especially with his tendency to play the ball from the back, making, on average, 30 short passes per game.

A defender more linked with the team's European rivals, Benatia could be the perfect low-key signing that blossoms at the club without the pressure of arriving at the Camp Nou as a star name centre-back.

Mats Hummels

Unsurprisingly, Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender Mats Hummels has been linked with a transfer to FC Barcelona.

He's another obvious choice when thinking of the very few world class centre-backs who can instantly make Barca a better team, and it's clear why.

Hummels has won more tackles than any Barca player and more than any transfer target in this article, winning 35 at a rate of 3.2 per game.

The 22-year-old also makes the most amount of passes, spraying around 70 per match on average, while his other statistics also compare well against the other targets and Barcelona's defenders.

Besides the figures, Hummels is also a great option considering he's already so talented and experienced, so he would make a great instant option at the back, and yet he also has phenomenal resale value given his age.

The only question is whether Barcelona can realistically sign him, given that his contract runs until 2014, he has no release clause and he recently rejected a move to Bayern Munich.

Nemanja Vidic

He's the oldest player on this list and has struggled with injury in the past, but as a quick fix for the next two or three seasons, Manchester United rock Nemanja Vidic is second to none.

And if Pep Guardiola decided to try to sign the United centre-back, he'd certainly have the backing of goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Valdes said back in July: "We always strive for the highest goals at Barcelona and look forward to when the world's best players come to us."

"So is the case with Nemanja Vidic, who is certainly one of the best defensive players in the world, perhaps the best. It would be my honour if he came to Camp Nou to command our defence."

The former Serbia international is vital to the Red Devils, but if Barca can lure him away from Old Trafford, it's clear they'd have no more significant problems at centre-back for the next few years.