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There is a slight football food-chain element to this feature, with \u2018untouchable\u2019 stars at Brentford and Everton featuring in our ranking of the 10 best centre-backs available to sign this summer.<\/p>\n
The centre-back market is not expected to be as hectic as the winger<\/strong> and striker markets<\/strong>but there will surely be plenty of movement in the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n Without further ado, here are the 10 best centre-backs available this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Manchester United were linked with a surprise move that wasn\u2019t actually that surprising when you thought about it. Collins has been fantastic for Brentford, who paid a then club-record \u00a323million for the Irish defender in 2023.<\/p>\n Brentford will surely want at least double that three years on from Collins\u2019 arrival, and we think he is well equipped to make the step up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Here starts a run of three English centre-backs: one reportedly close to joining a new club, one attracting interest and the subject of multiple offers, and another whose future has gone very quiet after an injury-ravaged season.<\/p>\n Stones impressed for England at the World Cup, which has done his prospects no harm after entering free agency following the expiry of his Manchester City contract.<\/p>\n Inter are reportedly closing in on the signing of Stones<\/strong>who has also been discussed as a potential target for Arsenal. His experience and ability make him a very attractive signing, but his painful injury record is, of course, well documented.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Chalobah will surely leave Chelsea this summer. The Blues are close to announcing Maxence Lacroix and already have an array of central defenders.<\/p>\n Como are reportedly in negotiations to sign Chalobah and have offered \u20ac30million for the England international, which Chelsea<\/strong> insist is not enough wonga.<\/p>\n As an Arsenal fan, it\u2019s annoying to see Chelsea digging their heels in because I just know Ben White will end up leaving for \u00a315m. Ugh.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A very promising young defender, Branthwaite missed a lot of football last season and was left out of Thomas Tuchel\u2019s World Cup squad as a result. It was a fair decision, as the England man was never going to be close to starting. Levi Colwill was also omitted, with both players viewed as long-term options and likely to be involved at Euro 2028 if they continue on their current trajectory.<\/p>\n Branthwaite was a top Manchester United target last year, but rumours of a move to Old Trafford have quietened down. That is good news for Everton, but also an indication that his stock has dipped slightly.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Separating Scalvini and the English trio was unnecessarily difficult, but we are content with the ranking as we know, deep down, that nobody gives a s**t.<\/p>\n The Italian would be a long-term investment, but is also a player good enough and experienced enough to make an instant impact.<\/p>\n The jump from Serie A to the Premier League is not too significant, though Scalvini\u2019s injury record is rather concerning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Poor Sporting could lose both of their starting centre-backs this summer. We have been saying that for about three years now, mind\u2026<\/p>\n Inacio could start alongside Ruben Dias \u2013 a player we considered including amid reports he wants to follow Pep Guardiola out of Manchester City<\/strong> \u2013 at the World Cup. He was a regular during last year\u2019s Nations League Finals but not at Euro 2024, so we are not 100 per cent sure.<\/p>\n Premier League clubs will be sniffing around Inacio, while there is also reported interest from AC Milan. That feels right, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Leipzig have an incredible knack for unearthing brilliant French centre-backs. It\u2019s quite weird.<\/p>\n Ibrahima Konate<\/strong> and Dayot Upamecano went on to bigger and better things after establishing themselves there, while Mohamed Simakan joined Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s Al-Nassr last year, and Lukeba is next in line to earn himself a big-money move.<\/p>\n It could happen this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n One of the quickest and strongest players in the Premier League, we\u2019d be surprised to see Murillo at Nottingham Forest next year.<\/p>\n His stock hasn\u2019t fallen but he has fallen behind other Premier League centre-backs in clubs\u2019 list of centre-back targets. Still, Murillo should be able to leave Forest for around quadruple the \u00a315m they paid to sign him from Corinthians.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Having to be convinced to merely show up for Tottenham\u2019s do-or-die final-day game at home to Everton was not a great sign. The Spurs captain<\/em> was set to be in home country to watch his boyhood club Belgrano play in the Argentine Primera Division final<\/strong>but a U-turn meant he was there to support his team-mates and thank his current club\u2019s loyal supporters after a quite frankly, f**king embarrassing campaign.<\/p>\n Does he deserve any credit? Does he f**k.<\/p>\n It could be the end for both Micky van de Ven and Romero at Spurs<\/strong>but the latter feels more likely to leave given the constant links and what transpired in the final week of the 2025\/26 domestic season.<\/p>\n He is very, very, very Atletico Madrid but Inter \u2013 the reported frontrunners \u2013 are also a good fit.<\/p>\n Romero is a top player and would be a top signing for literally anyone. He could do with growing up a bit and getting sent off less, but where\u2019s the fun in that?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The best option out there, Schlotterbeck has been excellent in four years at Dortmund and is arguably the best centre-back in the Bundesliga.<\/p>\n We are probably taking liberties by suggesting Dortmund would be open to selling him, as Schlotterbeck recently signed a new five-year contract, but money talks, and if a truly elite club like Real Madrid come calling, he should not need too much convincing.<\/p>\n The best thing about him? He\u2019s left-footed. Clubs love left-footed centre-backs.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Every Premier League transfer confirmed in the summer of 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n10) Nathan Collins (Brentford)<\/h2>\n
9) John Stones (Free agent)<\/h2>\n
8) Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)<\/h2>\n
7) Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)<\/h2>\n
6) Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)<\/h2>\n
5) Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP)<\/h2>\n
4) Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig)<\/h2>\n
3) Murillo (Nottingham Forest)<\/h2>\n
2) Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)<\/h2>\n
1) Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)<\/h2>\n