Manchester City preparing January swoop for Ruben Dias?

Manchester City could reportedly move for Benfica defender Ruben Dias during the January transfer window.

The Premier League champions lost Vincent Kompany over the summer, while Aymeric Laporte is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury, leaving head coach Pep Guardiola short of options in central defence.

Fernandinho has been pressed into action alongside John Stones, and the pair struggled to contain Liverpool during Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield, which ended 3-1 to the Reds.

Jurgen Klopp's side are now nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table, and a recent report claimed that the Citizens are prepared to spend heavily in the winter window.

According to O Jogo, Guardiola's side could launch a January move for Dias, who has also previously been linked with a switch to Manchester United.

The 22-year-old has contributed two goals in 17 outings for Benfica this season, while he has appeared on 102 occasions for the Portuguese giants in all competitions since debuting in 2017.