Manchester City were dealt an injury blow on the weekend as it was revealed that Aymeric Laporte would be sidelined for a while after being stretchered off against Brighton.
Pep Guardiola hailed the Frenchman as the "best left-sided defender" in the world prior to the clash against the Seagulls, but the former Bilbao man was forced off the field after 37 minutes with a knee injury.
Laporte's injury presents a real problem for City as they are relatively short of experienced options in the heart of defence. John Stones should be fit after the international break, but an another injury to him or Nicolas Otamendi could prove costly.
Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are both held in high record at the CFA but remain untested at Premier League level.
Here are six options that Guardiola could turn to if he chooses to splash the cash on a defender in January.
Ibrahima Konate - RB Leipzig
Defender Ibrahima Konate is the latest name in a long list of stars to have impressed in the Bundelisa after joining RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old moved to Germany on a free transfer in 2017 after leaving Souchaux and has blossomed into a key player for his side. He made 27 starts in the league last year as Leipzig conceded the fewest goals in the Bundesliga (29) to book their place in the Champions League.
Despite his age, Konate reads the game superbly and his physicality means adapting to life in the Premier League shouldn't be a problem. The youngster is capable of bringing the ball out of defence meaning he would suit Guardiola's style of play with City dominating possession more often than not. Again, City would have to spend big to secure his signature, but doing so may prove to be a masterstroke in the long-term.
Nico Elvedi - Borussia Monchengladbach
Another defender quickly making a name for himself in the Bundesliga is Borussia Monchengladbach star Nico Elvedi. Signed from Zurich in 2015, the defender quickly established himself as a key player for his new employers. Elvedi enjoyed arguably his finest season to date last year, as Gladbach narrowly missed out on a place in the top four.
Comfortable with either foot, Elvedi's versatility would also be attractive to Guardiola as he can play right across the back line. The 22-year-old is an excellent passer meaning adapting to life under the Catalan coach should be easy. He completed 95 per cent of his passes in the league last season, a higher pass completion percentage than any other City defender managed in the Premier League. The offer of Champions League football at the Etihad could be too tempting to turn down and the German side may be powerless to keep their main man.
Ruben Dias - Benfica
One man who could make a real difference in the City back four is Benfica star Ruben Dias. The 22-year-old displays maturity beyond his years and his leadership qualities led to him being handed the captains armband on numerous occasions. Dias is a product of the club's youth academy and would slot seamlessly into Guardiola's system. He is dominant in the air and excels with the ball at his feet.
Luring him from Portugal could prove difficult with Benfica desperate to keep hold of their star defender. Reports suggest his release clause is around £54million, but the Portuguese side hope to increase that sum to around the £80m mark. His agent is Jorge Mendes - who lists Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Ederson among his clients - which could boost City's chances of securing his services.
Caglar Soyuncu - Leicester
City pulled out of the race to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester in the summer as the England international eventually joined rivals Manchester United for £80m. Nevertheless, City could return to the Foxes to land Caglar Soyuncu - who has been impressive after finally finding his feet in England.
The 23-year-old made a shaky start to life in the Premier League after signing from Freiburg last summer but has looked a completely different player under Brendan Rodgers. The Turkey international shows similar traits to Maguire - he is calm and composed on the ball and is capable of picking out a pass. He is improving with every game and could thrive under Guardiola's stewardship.
Marc Bartra - Real Betis
One player Guardiola knows well is Real Betis star Marc Bartra. A graduate of Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy, Bartra made just one appearance under the City boss during his time at Barcelona. He was eventually sold to Borussia Dortmund, but his time in Germany came to an unfortunate end. After being injured during the Dortmund bus attack, his mindset was never the same.
Bartra moved back to Spain in 2018 and found a new lease of life with Betis. The 28-year-old is in his prime and suits Guardiola's system to a tee. Known for his passing skills, he would have no trouble filling the void left by Laporte. Whether he would be willing to fight for a place in the City backline remains a stumbling block to any deal given he is one of the first names on the teamsheet with his current club. Nevertheless, a move for Bartra in January would be a shrewd suggestion.
Kyle Walker - Manchester City
Should City opt to keep their chequebook closed in the winter transfer window, there is no reason why Kyle Walker couldn't play a part in the centre of defence. While his showings at right-back have been excellent, City have a ready-made replacement, Joao Cancelo, waiting in the wings that could allow Walker to shift to the middle.
The 29-year-old featured as part of a back three for England in the World Cup and with City usually dominating possession against teams lower in the standings, his defensive abilities wouldn't be called into question as much. With pace and power, Walker still remains a tough challenge for most Premier League attackers. Laporte's injury could be the perfect opportunity to reinvent himself and give Cancelo the chance to make a name.