Following the retirement of veteran defender Tony Popovic, Sydney FC is on the lookout for a key defender. Current defender Iain Fyfe has been touted as a replacement for Popovic, but the 26-year old is contemplating a move back to Adelaide which may create a gaping hole in the Sky Blues defensive stocks.

Names linked with Sydney include Eddy Bosnar who is currently playing in Japan with JEF United, Michael Thwaite who is on loan to rival Melbourne Victory from Norwegian club SK Brann, Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic and 23-year old Chesterfield captain Aaron Downes.

It seems Sydney FC are keen to secure at least one of these names to hold down a key central defensive position next season.