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No side has more clean sheets than Leicester City as the new year approaches.

And yet the club's priority in the January transfer window is bringing in a new centre-back.

It makes perfect sense. When Harry Maguire was sold, Caglar Soyuncu smoothly transitioned from reserve centre-back to first-choice alongside Jonny Evans. He was able to do so because he'd had a year to settle into life at the King Power Stadium.

Planning forward is again the priority.

Wes Morgan is out of contract next summer, and with the skipper turning 36 in the new year, another extension to his deal is unlikely.

City therefore want to bring in another central defender to complement Soyuncu, Evans and Filip Benkovic, the latter not progressing as quickly as expected after his Celtic loan spell.

Brendan Rodgers said in October: “[At centre-back] it’s one where we’re planning forward, if you look at Wes and where he’s at in his career.

“Going forward, if we’re looking at our goals and where we want to be, that position is very important for is. If we can do something in January…

“[Soyuncu] has done brilliantly and him and Jonny have formed a really strong partnership but there’s no doubt we have to plan forward because of where our other centre-halves are at.”

With that in mind, here are nine central defenders City could target in January.

James Tarkowski

After Maguire left in August, City tried to spend the £80m record fee they received from United.

They enquired about Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake, who proved too pricey, and then submitted an offer of £30m for England international James Tarkowski. Burnley wanted more than £40m and so City stuck with their current set of centre-halves.

While Soyuncu’s form has negated the need for a top-level centre-back for the time being, City could return for Tarkowski in January, if they feel the price is right, given a much busier schedule is on the cards next season when the club could be competing in Europe.

Merih Demiral

Why have one Turkish international when you could have two?

City were first linked with Merih Demiral in the final hours of the summer window, when they reportedly looked to get Soyuncu's international team-mate on loan.

The latest reports say City would be willing to pay €30m (£25m) for the Juventus star, but simultaneously, the reigning Italian champions do not want to part with the 21-year-old.

As back-up to Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs De Ligt, and with Daniele Rugani as competition, Demiral has only played five matches in all competitions this term. Giorgio Chiellini will return from injury in the new year and that may further reduce his chances.

While at Sassuolo last season, Demiral registered more aerial wins than any other centre-back in Serie A.

Robin Koch

After Soyuncu proved to be a successful recruit, City have now been linked with his former team-mate.

Robin Koch is one of the most recent men to be thrown up by the rumour mill with City reportedly holding an interest in the 23-year-old Freiburg defender, who received his first Germany caps this season.

As a young player with a fair amount of experience, Koch fits the usual profile of a City transfer target, while his presence in the air – no centre-back has won more aerial duels in the Bundesliga this season – will not have gone unnoticed.

But he likely would not come cheap, given he is a key player at eighth-placed Freiburg, where he has started every game this season, occasionally in defensive midfield.

Kristoffer Ajer

Any time a manager moves to a new club, players are predicted to make the same journey.

Norwegian international Kristoffer Ajer has been one of a few Celtic stars linked with a reunion with Rodgers and the 21-year-old does fit the bill.

He’s young, has international and European experience and dominates in the air at 6ft 4in. He’s a former midfielder, so he’s pretty decent on the ball too.

However, Celtic won’t be keen on selling, particularly not to their former boss.

Salif Sane

City reportedly made enquiries over Schalke’s Senegalese international in the summer and have been keeping a keen eye on his performances.

They will have been disappointed, then, to see the 29-year-old ruled out for four months after tearing his meniscus at the start of November.

Before his knee injury, Sane was a key player at Schalke, helping them to the last 16 of the Champions League last season, and scoring twice this term.

Standing at 6ft 5in, Sane is renowned for his ability in the air and he leads Bundesliga centre-backs this season for headed duels won per game.

(Image: Allsport Co./Getty Images)

Ben White

With Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy, Adam Webster and Dan Burn in their squad, Brighton have a glut of fine centre-backs.

That allowed them to loan out Ben White to Leeds, and the 22-year-old is shining for the Championship high-flyers and reportedly attracting interest from City, Wolves and Liverpool.

No second-tier centre-back has made more tackles or interceptions than White, while only Fulham’s Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream have completed more passes.

There are concerns over his ability in the air, but City have shown a knack of turning top Championship players into Premier League stars, with James Maddison and Harvey Barnes making the leap with relative ease.

Djene Dakonam

Linked with City over the past two summers, Getafe’s Djene Dakonam has developed into one of La Liga’s star centre-halves.

The Togolese international is quick across the ground and keen to get stuck in, but that does lead to yellow cards.

He has captained Getafe of late and is proving a key player for the Madrid-based side, who have won one of the last seven league games Djene has missed.

The 27-year-old has also attracted interest from Arsenal.

Malang Sarr

City quite often return to former targets – they signed James Justin two years after first scouting him – and Malang Sarr popped up on the radar a while ago.

Promoted to the Nice first team in 2016 aged 17, Sarr has attracted interest from around Europe over recent years, but he remains in the south of France.

With his contract up in the summer, he could be an enticing option for City.

Still only 20 and able to play at left-back too, he has the right combination of potential and experience.

Benoit Badiashile

City and Monaco have done plenty of business over the past 18 months, with Rachid Ghezzal, Youri Tielemans, Adrien Silva and Islam Slimani all switching between the clubs.

That relationship could help City, as Monaco’s teenage star Benoit Badiashile won’t have gone unnoticed in the club’s search for a new centre-back.

The 18-year-old was thrust into the first team last season and took his chance. He’s now become a regular first-team player, starting 12 of 18 matches in Ligue 1 this season. He already has Champions League experience too.

However, his recent contract extension with the principality club increases his price-tag.