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Former Arsenal and England forward Jodie Taylor has announced her retirement after 21 years in the game.

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• Taylor retires at 37
• Made 51 appearances for England
• Won Champions League with Lyon

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At the age of 37, the forward has decided to call time on a career that saw her play in six countries and represent her country 51 times.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Taylor's senior career began at Tranmere Rovers in 2002 and took her to the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden and France before she returned to England to join Arsenal this year.

  She won trophies with Birmingham, Goteborg and Melbourne before helping Lyon to Champions League success in 2020.

  The forward was also a World Cup finalist with England in 2015 and won the Euro 2017 Golden Boot before claiming the SheBelieves Cup two years later.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  "I am at peace with the decision to retire and it's my choice. I think [that] is really important. [It's] really fortunate that I'm in the position to make that decision for myself," she said.

  "I think before I even stepped foot on the plane to go to Arsenal at the end of last season I kind of knew it was going to be my last stint playing.

  "It's a club that I love so much and respect so much, and to have the opportunity to be back there and them to welcome me knowing it was going to be my last game, it's pretty special."

  Taylor added: "I'm happy that the time has come now – it's the right time."

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Taylor has not revealed what she will do after bringing an end to her playing career.

The winger provided a match-winning assist in her first appearance following an 11-month lay-off as she aims to get back to her Euros-winning form

Even before Beth Mead stepped onto the pitch for her first Arsenal appearance in 11 months, even before she assisted England team-mate Alessia Russo’s late winner on her return from an ACL injury, the Emirates Stadium was buzzing with excitement. Whenever Mead warmed-up on the sideline, there were raucous cheers. When she started receiving tactical instructions moments before her long-awaited return, chants of ‘Meado, Meado’ echoed around the stadium. And when she finally set foot on that pitch in the 88th minute, the noise was deafening.

For a short period, it looked like Mead’s comeback wouldn’t come on Sunday. Arsenal trailed Aston Villa from the 25th minute, when Maz Pacheco capitalised on some poor defending from a set-piece to head the visitors in front. Try as they might, the Gunners just couldn’t find a way through the visiting defence. Their winless start to the new Women’s Super League season looked set to continue.

Would head coach Jonas Eidevall take this opportunity to put in Mead, a player who had been sidelined for almost a full year? It seemed more likely that someone with a bit more match-sharpness might be trusted to come on and change the game, especially as Mead hadn’t been seen warming up for some time.

But the 35,829 fans inside the Emirates would not leave disappointed on Sunday. Not only did they get to see the return of the 2022 Ballon d’Or runner-up – they also got to see her contribute to the most incredible turnaround. In the 88th minute, Mead came on. In the 92nd minute, Katie McCabe hammered home an equaliser. In the 94th minute, Mead teed up Russo to strike home the winner.

“Pretty amazing,” the England star told reporters afterwards, describing her feelings in the moment. “It’s been a long, long time coming. There have been a lot of hard days, a lot of good days. I think, ultimately, you want to do your job, you want to do something you love – and that had been taken away for such a long time. So to be able to get out there, with that type of reception from the fans, was pretty incredible.”

"She deserves that reception. She's worked so hard,” Eidevall added. “She's had a really difficult year, both being injured and her mum passed away. We know that it's been incredibly tough for her and it's so nice to see her back on the pitch, seeing her being able to perform straight away.

“You never know that. You have the hope, otherwise I would never have put her on, but you don't know it until you've seen it. That was very nice, so a special moment.”

Patience is certainly important with a player who had been out of action for 11 months, but the early signs show that Mead is on a positive path when it comes to getting back to her best. What impact could her return have for both club and her country?

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  Ending Arsenal’s wait to win

  It’s been a really tough start to the season for Arsenal. Knocked out in Women’s Champions League qualifying, that disappointment has had a knock-on effect in the Gunners’ start to the new WSL season, with Sunday’s maiden win coming at the third attempt after a shock defeat to Liverpool and a draw against Manchester United.

  The north London club have not been helped by a short turnaround between the summer’s World Cup and those European games, with just 17 days between the two. Several players in Arsenal’s squad took their country to the final days of the tournament and balancing their requirement for time off with the need to return to club and gel with the new players – or gel as a new player, in many cases – has been tricky.

  Throw in the long-term absences of Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema, Laura Wienroither and – until Sunday – Mead, and it’s no wonder the Gunners have looked a little out of sorts in these past few weeks.

  To welcome back their star winger was a huge boost for the fanbase, then, and the lift that gave to the crowd was palpable. That energy certainly made an impact on the team as they managed to find two very late goals to win the game.

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  England’s worries

  It’s not only Mead’s club that has struggled in the last few weeks. England backed up their 2022 European Championship triumph with a run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in August, but since then, their Nations League campaign hasn’t got off to a great start.

  There were a few problems that plagued the Lionesses during the World Cup – no natural left-back, a lack of real attacking spark and a formation change that suited some well and others less so. Sarina Wiegman’s side did brilliantly to overcome those obstacles to reach the final, but the problems have not just magically disappeared.

  England need to top their group to qualify for the Nations League finals and, as a result, stand a chance of securing a spot at the Olympics for Team GB’s women’s football team. But after looking a little sloppy in their opening game, a narrow win over neighbours Scotland, they suffered a defeat in the Netherlands that puts them on the back foot early on. There is still no natural left-back, the attack still doesn’t look at its best and the formation is still a hot topic.

  Even a fully fit Mead could not solve all of those problems, but the winger can certainly bring top quality in the attacking third already. We saw that on Sunday – as did Wiegman, who was in the stands at the Emirates to watch all the drama unfold.

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  A change of shape?

  Could Mead’s return have a significant impact on England’s formation, too? The 28-year-old is an out-and-out winger who thrives in those spaces. She can put excellent crosses into the box, she can drive inside and strike at goal and she has the goalscoring instincts to drift into central areas when the ball is on the opposite flank. These reasons, combined with her world-class talent, are why she racked up six goals and five assists in just six games at last year’s European Championship.

  If she comes into England’s team now, though, in the 3-5-2 shape that Wiegman switched to during the World Cup, these qualities will not be maximised in the same way. Yes, Mead is adaptable and could be dangerous in a new role, but to get the best out of her then you want to play her out wide, not as a wing-back and not as part of a front two.

  If she is called up for the Lionesses’ October squad, which will be announced on Tuesday, then it’s anticipated that any minutes in the upcoming games against Belgium will be from the bench. She’s only just come back, after all.

  That will be a welcome boost, though, because those super-subs are something England have lacked since the likes of Russo and Ella Toone – who played those roles in the Euros in 2022 – have been integrated into the starting line-up.

  But in the long-term, what does Mead’s comeback mean for Wiegman’s 3-5-2? With the formation not seeming to suit star midfielder Keira Walsh and it also lacking a natural place for Chloe Kelly, the in-form Manchester City winger, Mead could add to the case to revert back to 4-3-3.

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  Igniting Arsenal’s season

  Mead’s main contributions upon her return to fitness are going to be for Arsenal, though, and the Gunners will be hopeful that Sunday’s match-winning input was a sign of things to come because their season absolutely needs igniting.

  Was this win over Villa that moment? It certainly felt like it could be pivotal, not just because it was a first win but because of the manner in which it was achieved. It’ll give the players an almighty feeling to have done what they did in stoppage-time.

  And Mead played a big part in that. In the 94th minute, the way she darted past one defender and into the box dragged any attention away from Russo, who was waiting patiently on the edge. Suddenly swarmed by several Villa defenders, her quick pass back to the England striker was the wise decision and the strike, while it should’ve been saved by Daphne van Domselaar, won the game.

  “For those of you who were here [on the opening weekend], how many times did Liverpool block shots from us in the box?” Eidevall asked those in the Emirates’ press conference room afterwards, referring to that shock defeat to the Reds. “It's such a massive part of it to say, to understand and to have that understanding: ‘Is my shot going to be blocked in this situation? And do we need another pass to set up the team?’

  “And Beth Mead, she's extremely good. She's extremely intuitive in those moments. But that's what I mean when I say, ‘Will she get that straight away?’ Sometimes you don't, but she does, obviously, because she’s Beth Mead. And we’re happy about that.”

Late drama saw Marc Skinner's side snatch a point from the Seagulls but they are now four points off Women's Super League leaders Chelsea

Ella Toone, Mary Earps and Guro Bergsvand all thought they'd performed the decisive heroics in Manchester United's rollercoaster 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday night. But it was Rachel Williams' 98th minute equaliser that proved to be the defining moment on what was, despite the late drama, still a very disappointing day out for the Red Devils. They now sit four points off Women's Super League leaders Chelsea after winning just two of their first five games of the season.

The warning signs were there for Man Utd, who were breathing a sigh of relief when Pauline Bremer's cross-cum-shot hit Earps' crossbar with less than 20 minutes on the clock. Moments later, Jorelyn Carabali forced a good save out of the England shot-stopper and, on the half hour mark, Elisabeth Terland beat her to fire the hosts into the lead, with Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner completely unaware of the Brighton forward's presence after Toone had lost the ball in her own half.

United had plenty of chances to level the scores before the break with Geyse hitting the post, Leah Galton heading over from close range and Turner being denied brilliantly from close range by former Red Devil Sophie Baggaley. Toone would finally get that equaliser they were searching for when she hit an unstoppable strike into the top corner deep into the second half but there was still time for not one but two final twists.

After Earps had already been forced into two fine saves and Williams had hit the post at the other end, Bergsvand rose highest in the box to score an 89th minute goal that seemed certain to be the match-winner. But United have been here already this season and so has Williams. Brought on as a super sub to save the day on the opening weekend at Aston Villa, she performed more heroics on the south coast with an even later goal to snatch a point for Marc Skinner's side.

GOAL rates Man Utd's players from the Broadfield Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Mary Earps (7/10):

  Made several huge saves to keep her team in it despite an under-par performance.

  Jayde Riviere (6/10):

  A little sloppy on the ball at times but got forward well, creating a fantastic chance for Galton late in the first half.

  Maya Le Tissier (5/10):

  Caught out on the counter a couple of times. Neither her nor Turner were aware enough of Terland for the goal.

  Millie Turner (5/10):

  Generally good in possession but, again, left Terland all alone for the goal.

  Hannah Blundell (6/10):

  Linked up well with Galton to cause problems.

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  Midfield

  Katie Zelem (5/10):

  United's intention to go out wide rather than through the middle meant she didn't get on the ball a lot.

  Hinata Miyazawa (6/10):

  Some intelligent touches and movement. Pressed well, too.

  Ella Toone (6/10):

  Dispossessed in her own half in an error that led to Brighton's opener but made up for it with a wonder strike to level the scores.

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  Attack

  Melvine Malard (6/10):

  Forced an outstanding save out of Baggaley early on and was lively throughout, despite being played in a position that didn't seem to suit her – again.

  Geyse (5/10):

  Hit the post with a massive chance in the first half. Generally wasteful in front of goal.

  Leah Galton (6/10):

  A constant threat, though did miss a big chance from close range in the first half.

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  Subs & Manager

  Lucia Garcia (N/A):

  Couldn't impact the game from the bench.

  Rachel Williams (7/10):

  Came on with less than 20 minutes left but still managed to perform heroics. Hit the post before that as well.

  Nikita Parris (N/A):

  Only on for the final few minutes.

  Marc Skinner (5/10):

  Decision to play Malard, a natural finisher, out wide continues to be baffling, especially given how wasteful in front of goal United were in this game. Super sub Williams again had to save the day after a poor performance.

Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to compete with Newcastle United to sign Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal in January.

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• Arteta wants Ruben Neves in January
• Player joined Al-Hilal in the summer
• The Gunners will face competition from Newcastle

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reports that Arsenal manager Arteta is keen on signing Neves from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal in January and has requested the board to go all out for the player.

  The Gunners are eyeing a replacement for midfielder Thomas Partey who is likely to depart the club in the next window and Arteta thinks that the Portuguese is the perfect alternative. They will though have to face competition from Newcastle United who see Neves as a replacement for Sandro Tonali,who is serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Several European giants like Barcelona and Arsenal were interested in signing the Portuguese international in the summer transfer window but it was Al-Hilal who won the battle by paying a sum of €55m, which according to the other competitors seemed like a lot of money for a player who was heading into the final year of his contract with Wolves.

  Neves eventually committed his future to the Saudi Arabian club by signing on a three-year-long deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 26-year-old has become a key member of Jorge Jesus' squad since joining them in the summer. He has appeared in 17 matches for the team in all competitions and has scored two goals and provided an assist.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  After losing to Newcastle United on November 4, Arteta's side came back strongly by beating Burnley in their last Premier League encounter. They will now aim to extend their winning run on Saturday when they take on Brentford.

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard decided to retire from the sport despite Saudi Arabian teams offering him agreements worth £1 million per week.

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• Hazard retired in the summer
• Obi Mikel reveals Hazard had offers from Saudi
• Suffered from physical ailments towards end of career

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a 16-year professional career, the Belgian declared last month that he was hanging up his boots. It followed a tumultuous four years at Real Madrid during which he sustained injuries on a regular basis. In four seasons, Hazard only played 76 games for the Spanish powerhouses due to frequent physical problems. John Obi Mikel, Hazard's former Chelsea teammate, claims that even with his fitness issues, Hazard still received many lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.

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• WHAT JOHN OBI MIKEL SAID

  The former Chelsea midfielder revealed the chat he had with Hazard on Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five.

  "Should I go to Saudi Arabia, where I’m going to take a million a week, and then what? I got about two or three offers to go to Saudi Arabia," Hazard said.

  "He said, 'Mikel, I’ve got a lot of money. You know how I live my life. I don’t spend too much money. So, I have money now to live with my family and to bring up [my children]."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite the fact that several of the top players in the world, like Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo, had moved to Saudi Arabia, he rejected the call from the Saudi Pro League. At Chelsea, Hazard won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and two Europa Leagues. That came after he and Lille won the 2011 Ligue 1-Coupe de France double.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR HAZARD?

  Hazard hasn't revealed his plans for the future, however, his understanding of the game has made fans believe that he could become a coach in the future following in the path of his former teammate Fernando Torres.

Thierry Henry has claimed that Xavi's football knowledge is second only to Pep Guardiola, as he praised the soon-to-leave Barcelona boss.

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• Henry backed Xavi to succeed in management
• Praised beleaguered boss for 2022-23 title win
• Club legend due to step down at end of season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Henry, Xavi's former teammate in Catalonia, praised the struggling coach's managerial skills amid a difficult season for the Blaugrana boss. After winning the league title last season, Barca find themselves in third, and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

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• WHAT HENRY SAID ABOUT XAVI'S BARCELONA SUCCESS

  Appearing on , Henry addressed Xavi during a live interview: "First and foremost I wanna start with… I've been impressed with the job that you've done there. I don't care what people say, you won the league. Be proud, and I know you are. I'm very proud that I shared the field with you. You taught me a lot going to Barcelona."

• WHAT HENRY SAID ABOUT XAVI AND GUARDIOLA

  Henry also compared Xavi to another Blaugrana legend, adding: "I hope you're gonna carry on because your brain, for me, is second to none. The only guy that I know that is up there with you is Pep in terms of how you see the game."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Xavi and Henry played together for Barca from 2007-2010, including a starring role in Guardiola's 2008-9 side that captured a historic treble. The French forward left the club in 2010 having won four major trophies.

The USL and ESPN have agreed to a three-year media partnership to broadcast over 400 games across the company's streaming platform.

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• League finalizes broadcast partners
• Over 400 games on network
• League One cup on ESPN

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  One of the initial offerings on ESPN+ when the streaming platform launched, the USL has worked with ESPN for the past nine seasons. The new agreement ensured that over 400 matches per season of the USL Championship and the USL League One will air on ESPN platforms starting in 2024.

  As part of the agreement, ESPN will be the exclusive home of the inaugural League One cup competition, a World Cup-style competition that takes place throughout the year. The tournament will feature a number of interesting rule modifications to encourage attacking, including penalty kicks to decide tied matches throughout the tournament and total goals scored being the first tie-breaker in the group stage. The group stage, knockouts and final will all stream on ESPN+.

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  WHAT WAS SAID

  “As we enter a new era for the USL with the 2026 World Cup approaching, our focus is to provide fans with more ways to watch than ever before and be the most widely available soccer league in our country,” said Chief Commercial Officer Court Jeske. “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with ESPN during which the USL has grown significantly, and we are incredibly excited to continue this partnership.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The agreement completes the USL's media package heading into 2024, which will see games broadcast on ESPN, CBS and local linear platforms. The USL will air 35 matches on national linear television between CBS Sports channels and ESPN networks, a massive increase from nine last season.

  The league is expected to announce its broadcast schedule in the coming days.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The 2024 season will include two new first-year clubs, with Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship and Spokane Velocity FC in USL League One.

Newcastle United journalist Jordan Cronin was left stunned by the injury suffered by Joelinton away at Burnley in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Revelation

Joelinton has been nothing short of a revelation for the St James’ Park faithful this season.

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Reborn as a central midfield player, he has only missed one game this campaign in where he has been available for selection, scoring four goals and supplying one assist in the top flight (Transfermarkt), and being a key part of the team that dug themselves out of relegation trouble under Eddie Howe.

The Latest: Injury

Joelinton was forced off injured in the opening few minutes of their 2-1 win away at Burnley this afternoon, and Cronin gave his instant reaction on Twitter.

He observed: “Joelinton departs on a stretcher. Jacob Murphy on. Horrible to see, especially after the season he’s had. All fingers crossed it isn’t serious.”

The Verdict: Shame

It is certainly a shame to see Joelinton go off in that manner, and Newcastle will now be sweating on his fitness ahead of their pre-season schedule.

It did look like a nasty one for the Brazilian, so he may not be able to recover as quickly as he would like.

Nonetheless, at least competitive football is over for a while now, which should help Joelinton in his recovery, as he will no doubt be a key player on Tyneside once again next term.

In other news, find out what ‘brilliant news’ has now emerged for Howe here!

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Moussa Diaby heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), PIF are preparing a bid to bring the Bayer Leverkusen maestro to Tyneside ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the 22-year-old has been made a priority target for the Magpies, who are set to battle it out with Tottenham and Arsenal for his signature.

It has previously been claimed that the Bundesliga outfit could demand as much as £75m for the attacker, although it remains to be seen how much the Premier League clubs are willing to offer.

Better than Allan Saint-Maximin

Eddie Howe can land an upgrade on Saint-Maximin by bringing his compatriot to St James’ Park in the coming weeks or months.

Diaby has enjoyed a sublime season in Germany, showcasing his ability to score and create goals from a wide position. He has proven that he can make a big impact in the final third on a consistent basis, something with which the Magpies attacker has struggled during his time at the club.

For all of his exciting dribbling and direct play on the left flank, Saint-Maximin often leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to his end product. In 35 Premier League appearances this season, the attacker produced five goals and five assists from almost 11 expected goals and assists (xG and xA) combined, underperforming on his xG by 0.66.

It was a solid return from the former Nice wizard but hardly exceptional due to his underperformance and lack of consistency throughout the campaign, averaging a goal contribution every 3.5 matches.

Meanwhile, Diaby accumulated roughly 19 xG and xA combined in the Bundesliga and ended the campaign with 13 goals and 12 assists as he overperformed in both statistics. He averaged a goal contribution every 1.28 games for Leverkusen as he delivered in the final third on a consistent basis.

His current team-mate Kerem Demirbay previously hailed the 22-year-old’s qualities, saying: “He’s not only very quick but also a very clever player and you don’t see that very often in the Bundesliga.” 

The French phenomenon’s impressive statistics duly suggest that he would be an upgrade on Saint-Maximin for Newcastle. Diaby has been more clinical in front of goal and created a higher quality of chances for his team-mates, while he is also three years younger than the Magpies maverick, which suggests that he has the potential to improve even further.

Howe will now be hoping that PIF can work their magic and get a deal done for Diaby this summer…

AND in other news, PIF “are interested” in NUFC deal for “cold” £27m tank, he can be Howe’s own Varane…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Arsenal’s William Saliba heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

French journalist Fabrice Hawkins has claimed that PIF are eyeing up a deal for the £27m defender, whilst Marseille – where he spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan – are also attempting to snap him up.

Hawkins tweeted (translated from French): “Although Arsenal want to keep William #Saliba , Newcastle, Napoli and Atlético Madrid are interested. Pablo Longoria and Jorge Sampaoli have not given up on the idea of bringing him back.” 

Eddie Howe’s own Raphael Varane

The Magpies manager can land his own version of the Manchester United enforcer by securing a deal for Saliba in the coming weeks and months.

Former Liverpool winger Bernard Diomede previously claimed that the defender has “cold blood”, while the 21-year-old’s former coach Fabio Frasconi once claimed: “William Saliba will go far, very far. He reminds me of Raphaël Varane”.

This comment from Frasconi highlights the Frenchman’s potential and suggests that he can be Newcastle’s answer to his compatriot in the English top flight, one year after the 2018 World Cup winner made his switch to Old Trafford.

In the Premier League this season, the Red Devils defender averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.97 as he won 71% of his duels and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

The former Real Madrid centre-back also completed 88% of his attempted passes as he showcased his ability in possession. He is reliable on the ball and strong in his individual battles, demonstrating that he can excel at both sides of his game.

Meanwhile, Saliba averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.06 in Ligue 1. The 21-year-old won 64% of his duels and made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst completing an eye-catching 93% of his passes.

These statistics show that both centre-backs are quite similar in their actions, defensively and in possession, and that is why the Arsenal tank could be Howe’s own Varane at St James’ Park. He is a quality centre-back with the potential to improve even further, and PIF must now work hard to get a deal over the line.

At the age of 21, Saliba has plenty of time left to hone his skills and develop into a top-quality player at Premier League level. He has already shown that he can produce excellent performances on a consistent basis in Ligue 1, and it is now down to him to prove that he can do the same in England…

AND in other news, PIF could sign Newcastle’s answer to Haaland in “sensational” £60m “monster”…