Arsenal centre-back William Saliba will soon replace Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in the world, according to Rio Ferdinand.
The former defender, though, believes Manchester United youngster Leny Yoro will not be far behind.
Saliba continued a fine season at the back for the Gunners with a crucial goal and clean sheet in Wednesday's 2-0 win over United.
Yoro made his long-awaited debut for United in the same game, having been sidelined in the summer with a foot injury just days after joining for around £52million.
Ferdinand believes Saliba and Yoro are the two to watch over the coming years.
"I think [Saliba] going to be the best defender in the world," Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. "Saliba will be the best defender in the world when Virgil van Dijk gives up that post.
"As soon as that happens, it could be in a year, it could be three years. Whenever it"s going to be I don"t see anyone else taking over. The only person I see, the person who I think will rival him and it will be close is Leny Yoro."
Much is expected of Yoro, who arrived at United as somewhat of a transfer coup after heavy interest from Real Madrid.
Ferdinand was impressed by what he saw of Yoro against Arsenal, adding: "To be injured and come in ... he got in two situations one vs one on the edge of the box on his own and dealt with them both really well.”
Saliba looked clean, confident, classy, strong, elegant. Everything you’d want
He continued: “To go back to Saliba, he looks imposing. Rasmus Hojlund is probably still trying to fight his way out of his pocket now. It was like a man against a boy. I want to see Rasmus Hojlund improve in those situations, in those one vs ones.
"And I can say the same about [Erling] Haaland, when Haaland comes up against a Van Dijk, against a Saliba-type guy, I want to see him bully the life out of them as well, I want to see him hurt them and put punches in those guys, not just flat-track bullies. Saliba looked clean, confident, classy, strong, elegant. Everything you’d want.
“It was great just to see another centre-half, a young one, come on who is two or three years behind in adjusting to the Premier League and come on and look so clean in the defensive situations where if you"re going to be a top team you need someone in the back line, at least one of them, who can go one vs one with anyone on the pitch."
