Manchester City eye January move for Manchester Untied target

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has earmarked Benfica defender Ruben Dias as a top transfer target in January, claims The Daily Mirror.

The defending Premier League champions are already eight points behind Liverpool in the title race and are currently down with an injury crisis at centre-back.

City failed to replace former captain Vincent Kompany over the summer and both Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are long-term absentees through injury.

Guardiola has been forced to field Fernandinho at centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi and plans to sign a new centre-back in January to solve the club's woes.

City have indentified Dias as a potential transfer target and are prepared to snap up the United target.

Dias has been heavily linked with a move to United in the last 12 months but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side appeared to have cooled their interest following the arrival of Harry Maguire.

Dias' current deal is not due to expire until the summer of 2024, though the Portugal international has a £59m release clause and Benfica are working to increase it.

The 22-year-old has played every minute of league action for Benfica this season and has garnered an encouraging WhoScored rating of 7.06 in that time.