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Manchester United And Manchester City Go Head-To-Head Over Defensive Pair

Manchester United And Manchester City Go Head-To-Head Over Defensive Pair

Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola want to improve their defence as they try to catch up to Premier League winners Liverpool.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Manchester United and Manchester City could clash in the transfer market this summer with both sides having the same top two targets to fill their problematic centre back role.

There are problems at the back for both clubs, despite significant investment for the Manchester teams in recent years, and if they want to catch up to champions Liverpool then things will certainly have to improve.

United and City will both look to add a defender to their squad this summer and, according to the Independent, both have their eyes on the same two targets.

The paper reports that both Kalidou Koulibaly and Milan Skriniar are top of the wanted list for both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola.

Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the world. Image: PA Images
Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the world. Image: PA Images

Last summer United were in desperate need of a centre back and the same was soon true of City after Vincent Kompany decided to leave the club.

Both managers wanted to sign Harry Maguire and the former Leicester City man chose Old Trafford, with United paying a world record fee for a defender of £80 million.

With Maguire gone City didn't have another target and decided to stick with what they had, a decision that backfired after losing Aymeric Laporte for much of the season.

Complete loss of form for both John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi left Guardiola with a weakened defence for a huge part of their failed Premier League title defence and Fernandinho had to fill in for many game.

Napoli's Koulibaly, considered one of the best defenders in the world, is their number one target and they won't want to miss out to their rivals again, especially as Liverpool have also been linked with him.

However the report suggests that Inter could be willing to swap Skriniar for Sergio Aguero and that could work out better for City if they want to reign in spending to fit in with FFP and if their two year Champions League ban is upheld and the striker wants to move on.

Skriniar has been impressive for Inter. Image: PA Images
Skriniar has been impressive for Inter. Image: PA Images

Despite splashing the cash for Maguire, United are still in need of another centre back as neither Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly has been able to make a strong enough claim to partner the Englishman.

As well as competing with their rivals for the two high profile names the club are also interested in Swansea City's Joe Rodon and RB Leipzig centre back Dayot Upamecano.

Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo, both currently out on loan, are likely to leave the club on a permanent basis once their temporary deals finish.

Which centre backs do you think City and United will sign this summer? Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Manchester United, Serie A, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Premier League, Napoli, Transfer news, Kalidou Koulibaly, Transfer reports, Inter