Beth Mead, Lena Oberdorf and Alexia Putellas have been announced as the final three contenders in the running to win the 2022 UEFA Women s Player of the Year accolade.
The trio had been named on the initial shortlist of 22 players, which has now been whittled down to just three names ahead of next week s award ceremony in Istanbul.
Arsenal attacker Mead is rewarded for an impressive showing at the Women s Euros, where she was crowned Player of the Tournament after leading the scoring charts in England s triumph on home soil.
Oberdorf won the Young Player of the Tournament award after helping Germany to another final, having also played a crucial role in Wolfsburg winning the domestic double last season.
Spain star Putellas was absent from the tournament …
Villarreal have claimed that Paco Alcacer s loan move to Sharjah FC has been annulled unilaterally by the United Arab Emirates club.
Alcacer s temporary transfer was confirmed by the LaLiga side on Wednesday, only for an update to follow on Friday saying the deal was off.
The Spain international joined Villarreal in January 2020 from Borussia Dortmund on a five-and-a-half-year contract, but has scored just 21 goals in 76 games in all competitions for the Yellow Submarine.
Alcacer has suffered several muscle injuries for last season s Champions League semi-finalists and struggled to establish himself in Unai Emery s team.
…
Neymar insisted he did not leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain to play in the Europa League after boosting the club s Champions League qualification hopes on Wednesday.
PSG are in control of their own destiny thanks to a Neymar-inspired 3-1 victory over 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford midweek.
United only required a draw to progress to the last 16, but their passage to the knockout stage was put on hold after Neymar s double and a Marquinhos goal threw Group H wide open heading into the final matchday.
PSG, United and RB Leipzig are all level on nine points through five matches, with the Ligue 1 champions – who reached last season s final – only needing a draw against Istanbul Basaksehir next week to secure a round-of-16 berth.
Well done …