Having a strong defence is key to winning trophies long-term in any Football Manager title. No matter how attacking your set-up, how prolific your strikers are, or how talented your team is, a poor defence can undo a lot of great work. That’s why it’s always best to secure some defenders who will form the backbone of your team for many years to come. In this article, I will be taking a look at some of the best young centre-backs in Football Manager 2023.

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FM23 Best Young Cente-Backs

Josko Gvardiol

RB Leipzig’s prized possession is a hot commodity in the football world after summer 2022 links with a move to Chelsea. His price tag isn’t TOO unreasonable to start a save which should make him an easy buy for anyone looking to pick up an elite defender from the jump.

Antonio Silva

The personification of the modern central defender, Antonio Silva is a must-buy for any top-level manager. His skills on the ball are equally as impressive as his defensive stats making him the perfect modern defender. If you bid early you can get him for much cheaper than his 100 million release clause, which will look like a bargain before long either way.

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Giorgio Scalvini

No list of the best young centre-backs in FM23 is complete without this Italian sensation. At just 18 years old he broke his way into the Atalanta first team and earned his first cap for his country. He offers the added versatility of being able to play a defensive role, which should tell you enough about his technical skills on the ball.

Jurrien Timber

As the real-life chase for Timber’s services should tell you, he is the real deal. He may not have the most amazing passing skillset but his physical abilities and defensive mind more than makeup for any other shortcomings.

If positioned as the central point of a back three there’s no telling how well Timber could play.

Tanguy Nianzou

The Sevilla defender is a very complete player despite being just 20 years of age. His presence in the air should keep even the best attackers quiet and he can bring the ball out of the defence with ease. He’s got a price tag of roughly £20 million on his head which is a very fair price for someone with as many tools as him.

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