Exclusive: Lee Hendrie names the 3 best EFL Championship centre-backs right now | OneFootball

Pundit Lee Hendrie has given his verdict on who the three best centre-backs in the Championship are currently.

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes Coventry City's Bobby Thomas, Birmingham City's Christoph Klarer and Bristol City's Rob Dickie are currently the three best centre-backs in the Championship.

After two impressive seasons at the CBS Arena, Thomas was reportedly the subject of an £8 million bid from Sheffield United this summer, while he was also linked with Premier League duo Brentford and Burnley, but Coventry managed to fend off that interest and keep hold of the 24-year-old.

The Sky Blues will certainly be relieved they were able to retain Thomas as he has been a crucial part of one of the best defences in the Championship this season, and a run of five consecutive clean sheets in September and October has helped Frank Lampard's side establish a commanding lead at the top of the table.

Birmingham pulled off a big coup when they signed Klarer from German side Darmstadt last summer, and after he starred last season as the Blues won the League One title with an EFL-record total of 111 points, he was handed the captain's armband in August following the departure of Krystian Bielik to West Bromwich Albion.

After helping Bristol City reach the play-offs last season, Dickie has continued to be an integral part of the Robins' defence this campaign under head coach Gerhard Struber, and as a reward for his strong performances, he was recently given a new contract which will keep him at Ashton Gate until the summer of 2028.

Lee Hendrie reveals who he thinks are the three best Championship centre-backs

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie revealed that he believes Thomas, Klarer and Dickie are the three best centre-backs in the Championship right now, with the trio enjoying impressive starts to the season with their respective clubs.

"You look at the top end of the table and Coventry's Bobby Thomas has been very good for them," Hendrie said.

"It's always about having a solid defensive unit that you always look upon for sure, so you have to say that, defensively, he's been very good.

"Another one that I was impressed with last season is Christoph Klarer at Birmingham.

"He looks like he leads by example, he's a big strong centre-half who puts himself about.

"The other one I've been impressed with is Rob Dickie at Bristol City.

"I think he's always had that potential.

"He's at the latter stages of that career, but he's a big leader who has been around the Championship, and I think the start he's had has reflected on where Bristol City are."

Coventry City could face Bobby Thomas exit threat on one clear condition

It is difficult to disagree with Hendrie that Thomas, Klarer and Dickie are three of the standout centre-backs in the Championship.

Klarer has seamlessly adapted to the league with Birmingham this season, but he has perhaps not been helped by the lack of a consistent partner alongside him, with Phil Neumann, Jack Robinson and Eiran Cashin all partnering the Austrian at various points, while Dickie has been a solid second tier performer for a number of years now with Bristol City and QPR.

However, while Klarer and Dickie could both stake a strong claim to being the best Championship centre-back, that title surely belongs to Thomas, with the Coventry man possessing excellent defensive attributes and a real goal threat from set pieces at the other end.

Having fought off interest from elsewhere to keep hold of Thomas this summer, the Sky Blues could be much more vulnerable to losing him at the end of the season if they were to miss out on promotion, but as things stand, Lampard's men look firmly on course to secure Premier League football.