Man City track Swansea defender Joe Rodon, 22, as Pep Guardiola steps up transfer hunt for Kompany replacement

MANCHESTER CITY are keeping tabs on Swansea defender Joe Rodon, according to reports.

The 22-year-old has recently returned to the Swans’ starting XI after an ankle injury and is reportedly being lined up as Vincent Kompany’s overdue replacement.

Ageing Fernandinho has regularly featured as an emerging centre-back this season.

Rodon has been sidelined ever since picking up an ankle injury on October,

But his return to Steve Cooper’s team will come as a boost to Pep Guardiola who is said to rate the Welsh international.

Comparisons have been made with City and England defender John Stones and as a result, Roden could be one of the two centre-backs the Premier League champions want to sign in the summer, according to the Mail.

The Etihad side are also said to remain keen on Leicester’s Ben Chilwell.

Rodon towers over most players at 6ft 4in and his presence and technical ability have seen him scouted by a number of Prem clubs.

Bournemouth, Everton, Leicester, Chelsea and Arsenal have all reportedly sent scouts to keep tabs since he broke into the Welsh side 18 months ago.

City have been widely criticised for failing to replace Kompany after he left in the summer.

And after Nicolas Otamendi was stretchered off against Brighton in August, their defensive woes got even worse.

Fernandinho has filled in at centre-half for most of the season but he is 34 and City are looking for long-term cover.