Chelsea have now hatched a plan to sign a "sensational" striker, with Romelu Lukaku potentially going in the other direction, according to a report.

Who are Chelsea signing in January?

It has been reported that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is the Blues' number one striker target for the January transfer window, despite the Italian club setting their valuation extremely high, quoting Paris Saint-Germain a fee of £172m in the summer. However, in the same report it is detailed that Ollie Watkins, Lautaro Martinez and Dusan Vlahovic have also been considered, so it is clear that Mauricio Pochettino has a number of targets in mind, after his side's slow start to the Premier League season.

Nicolas Jackson has been heavily criticised, having failed to hit the heights expected of him since arriving from Villarreal on an eight-year contract in the summer, scoring just one goal in his opening six Premier League games.

Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has claimed that Jackson "looks like he's devoid of all confidence in front of goal", so Pochettino may be forced to enter the market for a new striker this winter, although the Senegal international still has a few more months to prove himself.

In a report from CalcioMercato, it has now been detailed that Chelsea are still interested in signing AS Roma forward Tammy Abraham, who is currently out of action due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It is claimed that the Blues' present problems mean that a move for Abraham "cannot be ruled out" as early as this January, although a concrete attempt to sign him is more likely to occur next summer.

Pochettino's side may also look at using Romelu Lukaku as a "bargaining chip" in the negotiations, with the Belgian forward currently impressing on loan at Roma, having scored two goals in his opening three Serie A games.

The respective valuations of the two players are very similar, at around €35m – €40m (£30m – £35m), meaning that a swap deal could be a more or less equal exchange, which would satisfy both parties.

How many goals has Tammy Abraham scored?

The 25-year-old has scored a total of 159 goals in his career, across 359 games, but he did not impress during his final season with Chelsea, netting just six times in 22 Premier League appearances.

Since then, the "sensational" Englishman has kicked on in the Serie A, amassing 32 goal contributions across all competitions in the 2021-22 season, but there are doubts over whether he would be a worthwhile signing for the Blues.

If Abraham was brought in as a back-up option, getting Lukaku off the books in the process, then he could be a shrewd addition to the squad, but his goal record throughout his career does not indicate he is capable of being the main man.

Instead, the Blues should continue to target Osimhen as a priority, although they may find it difficult to win the race for the Nigeria international if their form does not pick up ahead of the January transfer window.

It has been reported that Arsenal "lead" a quartet of Premier League clubs as they eye one "class" 21-year-old gem from the continent.

Arsenal transfer targets – January

The north London club are well and truly off and running after a brilliant start to the season, most recently making a statement with their 1-0 win over champions Man City at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli's late effort added City to the growing list of teams who've tasted defeat courtesy of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have also sealed vital wins over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Man United, Everton and Bournemouth – drawing another two games against English capital rivals Fulham and Tottenham.

Arsenal remain unbeaten and next take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break. However, that isn't to say the Gunners have been perfect so far. You could make a case that Arteta's men have been forced to display real grit in a lot of their matches; securing many of the aforementioned wins by narrow one-goal margins. As a result, it is believed that a new striker and wide forward could be in the offing for 2024. This has led to links with Brentford star Ivan Toney and Wolves winger Pedro Neto, with club legend Ray Parlour believing Arsenal simply must sign a centre-forward in particular.

"I always think that you need a bit of back-up," Parlour told JBI Training when asked about Arsenal’s options up front.

"Eddie Nketiah did really well when he came into the team last season, but the Arsenal sides I was part of always had four really good strikers. I know that a lot of teams play with one forward now, but in my teams we had Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and obviously Thierry (Henry) and Dennis (Bergkamp). I do think we need that extra striker. If Gabriel Jesus gets injured again, is Eddie going to be able to come in and do well enough in the Champions League?

"I know that we could play with a false nine, but I would like that security of having an out-and-out striker."

Arsenal transfer news – Georgiy Sudakov

Adding to the list of 2024 transfer targets, it is now believed that Arsenal have their eye on exciting Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov. The Ukraine international is attracting plenty of admirers right now, but Arteta and co apparently "lead" a quartet of English sides.

Man City, Brighton and Chelsea are the other clubs taking note of Sudakov's exploits on the continent, but Serie A giants Juventus are said to be considering the Champions League player as a possible heir to Paul Pogba.

This is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Dean Jones, who shared a transfer update on Sudakov just before the weekend. The Athletic reporter Adam Crafton, speaking back in September (via 777 score), has called the player "class" with bags of potential.

“Sudakov is a class act, he has just turned 21," said Crafton.

"Last season, he showed great promise in the group stage of the Champions League and is likely to be the next big sale for Shakhtar.”

Manchester United seemingly need something dramatic to pull them from their miserable run at the moment, but the answer could be much simpler than first thought…

Why are Manchester United struggling so much?

Whilst their biggest issues could be chalked down to the poisonous atmosphere within the dressing room, a lack of technical and tactical quality, or even the Glazers, there are admittedly small tweaks that Erik ten Hag could make that would ease their outstanding failures.

After all, persisting with Bruno Fernandes from the flank is a decision that even the most casual of fan could debate, given both how influential the Portuguese superstar has been through the centre in the past, but also how the wingers he is keeping out of the team could affect the play.

Whilst the former Sporting CP ace is one of the most creative players in the entire Premier League, he is seriously lacking the pace and dynamism needed to thrive from the wing. Especially when considering his first full year in England was spent in attacking midfield, which allowed him to score 28 and assist 17 across all competitions.

Pundit Gary Neville would note: "I was worried the club wasn't going to support him in the transfer market but Bruno Fernandes has made an impact beyond what anyone could have expected. Not just in possession but out of possession – the way he sprints and gets at people. He's hungry and it looks like it's rubbing off on everybody." His former teammate at Old Trafford, Roy Keane would echo such a sentiment: "He's lifted everybody at the club. It's as if he's been there 20 years. He's got pure quality."

Perhaps returning him to that role could allow him to thrive once again, lifting the side in the manner that the Irishman suggested, whilst allowing someone like Alejandro Garnacho to inject some much-needed dynamism to the right flank.

How good is Alejandro Garnacho?

Whilst Antony might mark the obvious choice to return to the starting side, given the £86m invested to bring him from Ajax during the 2022 summer, his performances have been less than inspiring, and his presence is hardly much different from Fernandes given his lack of speed and ability to beat a man.

Last season saw him score just four and assist a further two in the Premier League alone, with pundit Gabby Agbonlahor lambasting his output to talkSPORT: "But when I look at Antony, there’s been a few big transfers in the Premier League, £86million for him… I think he’s a bluffer. I think when he gets the ball, he doesn’t take a player on. He doesn’t have the speed to take players on."

Meanwhile, Paul Scholes praised the Argentinian "animal", as branded by broadcaster Christian Martin, for the physical qualities that could now prove so vital: "This crowd loves entertainment and this lad was really entertaining, almost like a young Cristiano. I was impressed because some wingers can only go one way but he could do both which makes him so unpredictable."

Not only that, but at four years the Brazilian's junior and with far less senior experience, the 19-year-old would still finish last season with 12 goal contributions across all competitions, just one short of Antony's tally.

Garnacho's movement into the starting side would not only add that raw pace and trickery to terrorise defenders, but also allow Fernandes to thrive in his favoured role to get things back on track at Old Trafford.

They are 1-0 down and will be led by Suranga Lakmal in Dinesh Chandimal’s absence. West Indies, meanwhile, have won their two most recent Tests at the Kensington Oval

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Jun-2018

Big PictureForget the controversy for a moment. Forget the charges faced by the Sri Lanka leadership, forget the video clips, and the due process. From a purely cricket perspective, this series deserves a close finish. It hasn’t quite been an epic, but aspects of it have been a wonderful surprise.How many series have two 145kph-plus quicks at the top of the series’ wicket-takers’ list? Shannon Gabriel and Lahiru Kumara have forced one opposition batsman to retire hurt apiece. The cricket has never been more interesting than when either man is hurling deliveries at ribs and throats. On this tour both players may have had breakthrough performances. For years West Indies and Sri Lanka have searched for quick strike bowlers worthy of the title.At different times, both teams have made major gambles. Jason Holder declared at 414 for 8 on a Trinidad track that was not especially helpful to bowlers. In St. Lucia, Sri Lanka made four changes to their XI and might have won had rain and their own refusal to take the field on day three not sapped precious hours from the game. Various batsmen have shone at various points – Shane Dowrich, Kusal Mendis, Kraigg Brathwaite, Dinesh Chandimal, all playing different types of innings, all utterly committed to the team cause.The teams now move to the first-ever day-night Test in the region, played at one of the Caribbean’s most iconic venues. West Indies have not won a day-night Test in two attempts, losing to Pakistan in Dubai and England at Edgbaston. Sri Lanka have won their only day-night Test so far, last year in the UAE. These are small sample sizes, but one phenomenon that has been observed across the nine day-night Tests played so far is that the evening session tends to be especially fruitful for fast bowlers. Given the prominence of quicks so far, that is a tantalising prospect.Sri Lanka will quite likely miss the experience of Rangana Herath in this Test, however. He has been ruled out with a split webbing in his hand, sustained during fielding drills in the approach to this game.Form guideSri Lanka DLWDD (completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies DWLLDCWI Media

In the spotlightAlmost every time Shannon Gabriel came to the bowling crease in the second Test, the game seemed to change. Sri Lanka batsmen who had been cruising, suddenly had the ball seeking out the edges and shoulders of their bats. They found themselves struggling to contend with Gabriel’s pace. More than anything, they had to contend with balls leaping menacingly at them, Dhananjaya de Silva copping a painful blow to the wrist in the second innnings. In the end, his 13 for 121 in St. Lucia were the best figures ever in the Caribbean. If Sri Lanka can tear themselves away from other distractions to plan for this Test, it is Gabriel who will come up most in team discussions.The dropping of Kusal Mendis for the tour of India last year now seems like an outstanding call from the national selectors. Since he has returned, he has not only rediscovered limited-overs form, but has scored heavily in Tests as well. With 238 runs and an average of 59.50, he is the leading run-scorer in the series so far, and it was his second-innings 87 around which Sri Lanka built their first commendable batting effort on tour. His average took a bit of a beating in 2017, but it is on a forward march again, currently sitting at 39.00. Many feel he has the talent to be a 45-plus player.Team newsWest Indies may draft 20-year-old quick Keemo Paul into the XI in place of Miguel Cummins, who has gone wicketless in three of the four innings he has bowled in in the series. Apart from that change, they are likely to keep the same side. Holder said everyone was fit for the Test.West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Devon Smith, 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Shane Dowrich (wk), 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon GabrielWith Chandimal out of the Test, it is difficult to predict the exact make-up of the Sri Lanka side. Suranga Lakmal is going to lead the, SLC confirmed on Saturday. Danushka Gunathilaka may replace the misfiring Kusal Perera at the top of the order, but it is possible that Perera merely moves down the order.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Roshen Silva, 6 Kusal Perera, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Suranga Lakmal (capt.), 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru KumaraPitch and conditionsThe weather in Barbados is expected to be cloudy but dry for the majority of the Test. Pitches at the Kensington Oval have recently favoured seam bowlers.Stats and trivia Mendis’ scores in the series are 4, 102, 45 and 87. He averages 72.71 across four Tests this year. Gabriel’s bowling average has also been on an improve since the start of 2017. In that period he has 51 wickets at an average of 23.49. His average before that period was 38.12. West Indies have won the two most-recent Tests at Kensington Oval, beating Pakistan and England.

تحدث ليونيل سكالوني المدير الفني لمنتخب الأرجنتين عن التأهل إلى نصف نهائي كوبا أمريكا 2024، وإيمليانو مارتينيز بطل الفريق الذي ساهم في ذلك.

وكان لتأهل المنتخب الأرجنتيني أمام الإكوادور، بطل حصري هو إميليانو مارتينيز، حيث لعب حارس المرمى دوراً أساسياً في ركلات الترجيح.

وقال سكالوني في تصريحات نشرتها “Tyc” الأرجنتينية: “في ركلات الترجيح، لدى الفريق ثقة عمياء في حارس المرمى وهذا أمر أساسي”.

وأضاف: “حتى لو فشل ليونيل ميسي، مع كل ما يعنيه ذلك، كان الفريق يعلم أن شيئًا إيجابيًا سيحدث”.

وأضاف: “أنا لست مدربًا لحراس المرمى، لكن عندما يذهب الحراس للتصدي، أحيانًا تصدم الكرة بهم ويخرجونها”.

وتابع: “عندما يتصدى الحارس لركلات الترجيح، تتعالى أصوات الجماهير في الملعب بوضوح بسبب طريقة تصديه، ومن الأفضل أن يكون حارسنا هو من يتصدى لها”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ميسي يوضح سبب إهداره ركلة جزاء أمام الإكوادور ويسلط الضوء على “الخوف النفسي”

وعن اختيارات اللاعبين في تسديد ركلات الترجيح، أوضح: “لقد قمت بإدراجهم وقالوا جميعًا نعم، كما هو الحال دائمًا، فإنهم يتمتعون بثقة، لقد كانوا واثقين من تسديد الركلات وهذا أمر جيد”.

وبصرف النظر عن أداء مارتيينز، أشار سكالوني مرة أخرى إلى سوء الملاعب في كوبا أمريكا، بصورة غير مباشرة وبالمثل، سلط الضوء على رد فعل الفريق.

وتابع: “الشيء الإيجابي هو أننا تأهلنا، وبعيدًا عن حقيقة أنني لن أخوض في المشكلات التي يعرفونها بالفعل عن المباراة، فإن الفريق هناك، بعيدًا عن حقيقة أن الخصم يخضعك، فإن هذا هو ما تعنيه كرة القدم، من يدخل، يفعل ذلك بحماس ورغبة في تقديم أداء جيد”.

وشدد سكالوني: “هذه المرة لم أستمتع بالمباراة على الإطلاق، نحن سعداء بالطبع، لكن هذه المرة لم أقضي وقتًا ممتعًا”.

Harry Kane has a licence to thrill, with the record-breaking England striker getting a James Bond-esque “009” billing at Bayern Munich.

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First man to hit four hat-tricks in debut Bundesliga campaignHas smashed through 30-goal barrier in all competitionsDelivering perfect response to questions of futureWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific former Tottenham frontman continues to do all he can to ensure that Bayern do not end the 2023-24 campaign empty-handed. He has reached 36 goals for the season in all competitions, with 30 of those efforts coming in the Bundesliga.

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Kane hit a hat-trick in his latest outing for Bayern and has become the first man to hit four trebles in a debut Bundesliga campaign. There may be more history to come as he closes on Robert Lewandowski’s record haul of 41 strikes in the German top-flight.

DID YOU KNOW?

Questions have been asked of how happy and settled the 30-year-old forward is, as Bayern run the risk of missing out on major silverware for the first time since 2012, but the Three Lions skipper is said to be “feeling right at home” as he thrives at the Allianz Arena.

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WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Kane is no secret agent, with the threat he poses painfully obvious to opponents, and he will hope to continue firing his way past rival defences over the coming weeks as Bayern take aim at Champions League glory and an unlikely Bundesliga title triumph.

Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing an exciting player from one of their rivals, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Will Aston Villa make January signings?

The Villans have become a formidable side since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as manager during last season, qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League back in May and arguably looking like one of the strongest teams outside the 'big six' in the division.

A successful summer transfer window saw a number of impressive signings made by Villa, with the likes of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby among those who made the move to Villa Park. While this is arguably as strong a squad as they have ever had in the Premier League era, what they cannot afford to do is the rest on their laurels and fail to kick on in 2023/24.

For that to happen, more signings will be needed in the coming transfer windows, with additions potentially arriving in January, aiding their European push in the second half of the campaign in the process.

It looks as though Villa have set their sights on one highly-rated individual currently, following a new update that has emerged.

Which attacking player to Aston Villa want to sign?

According to 90min, Villa are one of the clubs keen on signing Arsenal attacker Emile Smith Rowe, should the opportunity arise to snap him up in the coming months:

"90min understands that Smith Rowe, who has scored one goal in three appearances for the England senior side, has ambitions of making Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024 and is desperate for more first-team opportunities this year.

"As such, the 23-year-old will assess his options if he does not see an increase in game-time at Arsenal prior to the January window. Aston Villa, who have made concrete attempts to sign Smith Rowe in the past, remain interested in him, while Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United are also monitoring the situation."

Smith Rowe could be a brilliant signing by Villa, bringing a combination of youth, attacking quality and versatility to Emery's squad. The 23-year-old has scored against them in the past, so they have witnessed his ability up close, and he is someone who could be desperate for more regular playing time than he is getting at Arsenal currently.

This season, the Englishman has only featured for ten minutes of Premier League action, highlighting how far he is behind the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the attacking pecking order at the Emirates, and it could be that a move away is best for his development.

Smith Rowe has been lauded as a "special" player in the past, having scored 18 goals and registered 11 assists in an Arsenal shirt, and while he is contracted with the Gunners until 2026, Villa should make sure that they are at the front of the queue when it comes to potentially securing his services in the near future.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Fluminense midfielder Andre in recent times, and a significant update has now emerged regarding a potential January bid for him.

Andre linked with Liverpool move

Much was made of the Reds' terrible midfield performances last season, with that area of the pitch proving to be a major issue for Jurgen Klopp, as his side eventually finished fifth in the Premier League.

The likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looked like shadows of the players they used to be, in terms of the energy they they were able to provide, while Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones were all unavailable far too often through injury.

For that reason, significant changes in personnel were needed in the middle of the park, with all the above players and James Milner moved on, barring Jones, and Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arriving at Anfield.

Liverpool transfer target Andre has been linked with a move to the club and is arguably one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in his homeland of Brazil, having already become an important figure for Fluminense at the age of just 22. A January move for him is possible, and a fresh update has now emerged.

Andre to Liverpool: January bid update

According to a new transfer update from Football Insider, Liverpool plan to make a January bid for Andre in the next transfer window, and are fully expected to make a proper attempt for his signature this winter.

Klopp's men have impressed for much of this season so far, but they do look light in defensive midfield at the moment, with Mac Allister being used there, which isn't the Argentine's strongest position. Meanwhile, Endo has taken some time to settle, and is arguably only seen as a squad player, considering he is 30 years of age.

Signing Andre in January would make complete sense for Liverpool, with the youngster far more of an out-and-out No.6 than someone like Mac Allister, possessing the dynamism and natural defensive brain to excel in that role.

Andre strengths

Andre weaknesses

Strong passing

Aerial duels

Excellent reader of the game

Can lack discipline

Good at dribbling

Still fairly raw

The Brazilian Liverpool target has been hailed as a "leader" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he has already made 156 appearances for Fluminense (Andre – staistics), scoring four goals and registering three assists in that time. He also has one cap to his name for Brazil, and he could be viewed as a future starter for them at the heart of the midfield.

Liverpool's midfield looks littered with top-quality options at the moment, but there is a clear lack of balance there when they face good teams, as proved to be the case away to Brighton on Sunday afternoon, with Mac Allister out of sorts at the Amex Stadium.

What Andre could do is let the Argentina star off the leash, allowing him to switch to his preferred No.8 role alongside Szoboszlai, also giving the defence more protection and making the Reds look like a strong all-round midfield unit, and less open as a team.

USMNT star Weston McKennie trained for Juventus Friday, and is shooting for a return to the pitch after nearly two weeks on the sideline.

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McKennie suffering from dislocated shoulderTrained Friday ahead of Sunday matchCould play potential role vs AtalantaWHAT HAPPENED?

In a recent 3-2 victory over Frosinone, the USMNT midfielder was removed in the closing stages of the match due to what was revealed to be a dislocated shoulder. The American nabbed two assists in the contest, putting on a display.

Now, less than two weeks on from the injury, he's back in training and competing for a role on the pitch Sunday.

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GOAL correspondent Romeo Agresti confirmed Friday that the American is shooting to compete on Sunday after completing Friday's session, while Bianconeri teammate Matti DeSciglio will unfortunately remain out.

McKennie nearing a full fitness turn for Juventus is a big win for the Bianconeri, but even more so for the USMNT, who will need heir central midfielder on March 21 when they take on Jamaica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League.

DID YOU KNOW?

McKennie has 49 international caps for the USA, with 11 goals from a central midfield role. If he returns healthy and is able to compete against Jamaica in two weeks' time, he will earn his 50th cap.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS AND MCKENNIE?

The Bianconeri clash with Atalanta on Sunday in a must-win match if they want to avoid being leapfrogged by third place AC Milan. Juventus hold a one-point lead over their Serie A rivals.

The 2020/21 Premier League season draped its curtains to a close, another enthralling year of action concluded. Newcastle United finished 11th, but the 62 goals conceded was the heaviest tally of any side in the top 14.

Not to worry though, the PIF club takeover in October 2021 preceded the managerial appointment of Eddie Howe, who orchestrated a second-half-of-season turnaround to secure a comfortable finish acres away from the lower echelon of the table, where the Magpies were moored upon the 45-year-old's arrival.

Last season, the transformative effect that the changing of the wind has had could not have been any more emphatic, with the diligent moves made on the transfer front resulting in a season culminating in Champions League qualification and a Carabao Cup final contest against Manchester United, which the Toon lost 2-0.

Most impressive was the way Howe combined the cogs to create a truly cohesive and unified outfit, fighting for each other and drilled with an unwavering understanding of the system, resulting in a fourth-placed finish ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Howe's side completed the campaign with the division's joint-best defence – alongside champions Manchester City – in a remarkable reshaping and remoulding of a formerly leaky backline.

While the likes of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and goalkeeper Nick Pope have all been instrumental, with the resurgence of Fabian Schar also playing a major part, it is surely Sven Botman who has been the catalyst for change, with the Dutchman simply superlative since arriving in 2022.

How much did Newcastle spend on Sven Botman?

Newcastle completed the signing of Botman in July 2022 for a reported £35m, arriving from French side Lille, and exhibited their newfound might by beating AC Milan – who had just won Serie A – to his signature.

It wasn't the most expensive signing of the new era at St. James' Park, that one went to Bruno Guimaraes, who arrived for £40m the previous winter market, but it was similarly paramount to the restoration of a thriving side that had lay dormant for decades.

And the turnaround speaks for itself, with Botman not just instilling his first-class quality but a sense of leadership and togetherness that bred the sensational success that has been embedded in Howe's side ever since.

How much is Sven Botman worth now?

According to CIES Football Observatory, Botman is now worth £43m, but the real value of his skill set is surely much higher; quite simply, he is integral in all that United seek to achieve, and his presence has restored Schar and allowed shot-stopper Pope to thrive, with the assurance that his burden is lessened by a rock-solid defence.

Having been hailed as a "beast" by football writer Matt Spiro in the months preceding his transfer to Tyneside, the one-time Ajax youngster is now a defender who would be in line for a starting berth at any outfit across Europe, and while he is yet to make his debut for the Oranje national team, he will surely cement his signature as an ever-present on the starting team sheet in the near future.

It's worth noting that he is still very young, especially for a centre-back, and will only continue to burgeon over the coming years, with Football Transfers delineating a rise in market value from £8m in 2020 to £42m just two years later, when he signed for the Magpies.

A profound achievement, and one that will indeed only continue to grow for a titan who is truly a "Rolls Royce defender", according to Newcastle World's Jordan Cronin.

Why is Sven Botman worth that much?

The £90k-per-week centre-back has been first-rate since his arrival, hailed for his "incredible impact" on the team by pundit Leon Osman and providing the commanding, imperious sense of authority that squads striving for honours and glory on the European scene require.

Last season, as per Sofascore, the 23-year-old made 35 starting appearances in the Premier League and kept 11 clean sheets, also completing 87% of his passes, winning 67% of his duels and averaging 3.3 clearances per game.

This term, despite only plating five divisional matches thus far having been hampered by injury, the 6 foot 4 colossus has been even more formidable, completing 92% of his passes, making 0.4 key passes as opposed to 0.1 last year, making 6.2 ball recoveries per match and winning 69% of his duels.

It's no wonder that Paris Saint-Germain came calling in the summer with hopes of tempting Newcastle into selling their prized defender, with the Northern Echo reporting back in March that while the Ligue 1 champions had been expected to ramp up their interest, there was simply no way Howe would grant his departure.

Waxing lyrical over his qualities, pundit Jamie Redknapp once said: “Botman at the back, we’ve seen some good centre-backs in this league [but] he’s got the capabilities to be better than them. He’s a real leader of men, what a special player he is.”

A danger at both ends, as per FBref, Botman ranks among the top 14% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, which illustrates an aptitude in winning balls from corners and Trippier's deadly set-pieces.

Indeed, he has already posted a goal and assist apiece from the five matches he has played in the English top-flight so far, and as he continues to make the increments to his overall game, Newcastle will only become even more formidable.

Sites such as CIES Football Observatory might value Botman at £43m, but this is probably not an apt reflection of his true worth; should teams such as PSG truly come calling, Newcastle would demand figures to make the Saudi Pro League revolution stop in its tracks.

He is simply unsellable, irreplaceable, implacable at the heart of the Magpies' defence, and as Newcastle continue to burgeon, so shall he further cement his name among Europe's elite centre-halfs.