Top10 - Number 8: Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Shalke)

When you think of the best defences in Europe from years gone by you think of players with a certain toughness, aggression and determination to keep the ball away from their goal. Papadopoulos has all three, and a whole lot more. His forceful frame enables him to muscle people off the ball, his pace allows him to breeze past on-rushing strikers and his agility is a contributor to him being a giant in the air. The 20-year-old is remarkably comfortable to play the ball around on the floor but is also partial to a crunching challenge.

He joined German outfit Shalke at just 18-years of age after breaking into the Olympiakos first team and he has become an integral part since the switch, making him a candidate, albeit a costly one, for United for years to come. With Rio Ferdinand in the last few years of his career and Vidic being plagued with injuries, I am sure Papadoulos will be on Fergie's shortlist, just like he was as a teenager.

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