Name: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
Age: 23
Position: Centre-back
Club Apps: 177
Club Goals: 4

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa can be regarded as something of a coup for Newcastle United. The highly rated centre-back is regarded as one of the great hopes of French football and has been linked with moves to Serie A giants AC Milan and fellow Premier League outfit Arsenal recently. Such is the esteem that he is held in, Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin described him as an "ass" for joining the Premier League strugglers as he felt a move to a top club was on the cards.

Yanga-Mbiwa is a complete centre-back. He is blessed with excellent speed, fantastic athleticism, reads the game well and offers leadership well beyond his years. The 23-year-old was captain at former club Montpellier and is capable of playing at both right-back and central defence. With want-away current skipper Fabricio Coloccini looking for a return to his homeland, Yanga-Mbiwa is more than capable of playing alongside the Argentine or as his replacement - be it now or in the summer.

Yanga-Mbiwa is also an alert and versatile player as he played as part of the back four or and in a deep-lying midfield role during Montpellier's surprise charge to the Ligue 1 title last season, with his skill on the ball a particular asset. While his height of 6ft is not the highest for a central defender, he does possess ability with his head but he is better with the ball at his feet.