Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland has named Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly as the three best centre-backs in the world.

The 20-year-old has already got the better of some of the game's leading defenders since his breakthrough with RB Salzburg, and rearguards have already been beaten by Haaland 17 times in the current season.

However, the Norway international can appreciate a good defender when he plays against one, and Haaland has since heaped praise on three centre-backs whom he regards as the best in football.

Speaking to Norwegian outlet VG, Haaland said: "The best [centre-backs] are Sergio Ramos, [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Kalidou] Koulibaly. All three are very physical, but also very intelligent on the pitch."

Haaland continues to be linked with a move away from Dortmund despite only arriving earlier this year, with Chelsea supposedly plotting a January swoop for the prolific forward.