Sources close to Rafa Benitez claim a three-year deal for him to take charge at Newcastle is currently being discussed. Benitez, who is without a club after being sacked by Real Madrid in January, tops a wish-list of managers who the club would like to put in charge should they decide to dispense with current boss Steve McClaren. Sky sources reported on Wednesday that Newcastle made an approach for the Spaniard, who is keen to bring his own backroom staff to the club and wants the title of manager rather than head coach. Rafas ups and downs A look back at the career of the Spanish manager Newcastle are thought to be considering scrapping their current policy of employing a head coach in order to lure Benitez to St James Park. Steve McClaren arrived at the clubs Darsley Park training complex as normal on Thursday shortly after 8am and will continue to prepare the first-team squad for their clash against Premier League leaders Leicester City on Monday Night Football. Steve McClaren of Newcastle His position as head coach looked no closer to being resolved on Wednesday, despite speaking to managing director Lee Charnley on the telephone in the afternoon. The pair were initially due to meet for talks but their planned meeting did not take place. Decision-makers We profile the key decision-makers at Newcastle… McClaren will not face the media on Thursday ahead of Newcastles trip to the King Power Stadium and will hold further discussions with Charnley following training.Saturdays 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth condemned Newcastle to their fifth loss in six matches and left them in 19th place in the Premier League table. Also See: Newcastle approach Benitez Rafas ups and downs Newcastle board hold talks Vault: Leicester v Newcastle 1996 Joe Montana Womens Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Frank Clark Womens Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-Joe-Montana-Chiefs-Jersey/ Patrick Mahomes Youth Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Mecole Hardman Womens Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. ESPN.com has rolled out its 2016-17 list of the top 200 players in the NBA with the annual #NBArank project.To highlight the international impact on the league, weve used those rankings to compile a list of the NBAs 50 top players who were born outside the United States. That represents less than half of the 113 rostered players, the most in league history, classified as international players by the NBA heading into this season.Without further ado, here is the #NBArank Global Edition (with each players overall #NBArank position in parentheses):1. (15) Kyrie Irving | AustraliaCleveland Cavaliers | PG | @KyrieIrvingLast years overall rank: 182016-17 projected RPM: -0.41Insider profile:?After struggling through the 2015 playoffs and exiting the NBA Finals early because of a fractured kneecap, Irvings 2016 Finals performance cemented him as one of the most unstoppable one-on-one scorers in the NBA. The New Jersey native is among the most skilled players; he has a top-three handle in the league, myriad artful finishes in the paint and a deadly pull-up game. ?Read more??2. (19) Giannis Antetokounmpo | GreeceMilwaukee Bucks | SF | @Giannis_An34Last years overall rank: 402016-17 projected RPM: 1.86Insider profile:?Already considered one of the best prospects in basketball, The Greek Freak experienced a remarkable evolution of his game because of injuries to then-Bucks point guards Michael Carter-Williams and Greivis Vasquez. With few other options, coach Jason Kidd decided to make Antetokounmpo his lead ball handler after the All-Star break and the team thrived. After the break, the Bucks scored 105.9 points per 100 possessions and had a 0.1 net rating with Antetokounmpo on the floor. He averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in that span. Most impressively for a young player in an expanded role, Point Giannis managed to turn the ball over on only 10.6 percent of his possessions. ?Read more??3. (22) Al Horford | Dominican RepublicBoston Celtics | PF | @Al_HorfordLast years overall rank: 242016-17 projected RPM: 3.25Insider profile:?Last season saw Horford take his game beyond the arc. He had matched his previous career total of 20 3-pointers by Thanksgiving and finished with 88, seventh-most among players 6-foot-10 and taller, at a near-average 34.4 percent clip. Specifically, Horford was able to shoot the 3 from the top of the key, valuable because it allowed him to pick and pop beyond the arc. ?Read more??4. (33) Kristaps Porzingis?|?LatviaNew York Knicks | PF?| @kporzeeLast years overall rank: 1922016-17 projected RPM:?2.95Insider profile:?At 7-foot-3, Porzingis proved remarkably adept at defending smaller opponents on the perimeter. His huge wingspan allows him to play a step off and still contest shots, and his nimble feet allow him to cover ground quickly against the pick-and-roll. Naturally, Porzingis size also makes him an effective shot-blocker, and he swatted more shots than the average center.?Read more??5. (35) Marc Gasol?|?SpainMemphis Grizzlies | C?| @MarcGasolLast years overall rank: 102016-17 projected RPM:?1.05Insider profile:?Even when healthy, Gasol wasnt the same player in 2015-16 as in his previous All-Star campaign. At 31, Gasol may simply be slowing down. His offensive decline can be traced to an unprecedented inability to finish around the rim. Gasol made a career-low 59.5 percent of his shots inside 3 feet, according to Basketball-Reference.com, down from 69.9 percent the year before. Gasol remained good as ever in the high post, where hes both an excellent midrange shooter (43.5 percent on 2-point attempts beyond 16 feet) and one of the best passing 7-footers in the league.?Read more??6. (36) Steven Adams?|?New ZealandOklahoma City Thunder?| C?| @RealStevenAdamsLast years overall rank: 1162016-17 projected RPM: 1.01Insider profile:?One of the breakout stars of the 2016 postseason, Adams emerged as the most important interior player on the Thunder, helping make Serge Ibaka expendable. Adams is entering his fourth season at age 23 -- hes younger than four players who were drafted in 2016. He has shown the potential to become an elite role player and is sure to command a maximum salary in an extension this fall or as a restricted free agent next summer.?Read more??7. (37) Rudy Gobert?|?FranceUtah Jazz | C?| @rudygobert27Last years overall rank: 422016-17 projected RPM: 2.53Insider profile:?Having led the Jazzs surge as a starter after the 2014-15 trade deadline, Gobert put together nearly an identical campaign in his first full season as a starter, both before and after a sprained MCL that sidelined him for a month. Given Goberts age (24), the fact that he didnt improve significantly qualified as a mild disappointment.?Read more??8. (41) Dirk Nowitzki?|?GermanyDallas Mavericks | PF | @swish41Last years overall rank: 432016-17 projected RPM: 2.22Insider profile:?While Nowitzkis eventual farewell will probably look more like Tim Duncans quiet departure than Kobe Bryants tour, theres no indication we need to plan for either scenario just yet. Nowitzki signed a two-year, $50 million deal this summer that includes a 2017-18 team option in case he wants to take another discount to facilitate the Mavericks creating additional cap space.?Read more??9. (42) Nikola Jokic?|?SerbiaDenver Nuggets | PF | @JokicNikola15Last years overall rank: 2942016-17 projected RPM: 6.25Insider profile:?Largely out of nowhere, Jokic surpassed Emmanuel Mudiay as the top rookie on the Nuggets, finishing third in the voting for Rookie of the Year and making the All-Rookie First Team. The No. 41 pick of the 2014 draft, Jokic spent one additional season overseas before coming to Denver and posting the best RPM of any rookie by a wide margin. At 21, Jokic looks like a future star, yet he will make just $4.3 million over the next three seasons on a bargain deal.?Read more??10. (44) Nicolas Batum?|?FranceCharlotte Hornets | SG?| @nicolas88batumLast years overall rank: 712016-17 projected RPM: 1.66Insider profile:?The Hornets took a gamble last offseason, when they sent away lottery pick Noah Vonleh to Portland in a deal that brought Batum to Carolina for the last year of his contract. Batums offensive role had been shrinking with the Blazers for years; his usage rate peaked in 2011-12 and declined each season before he reached the Hornets. Charlotte needed shot creation and shooting alike, and Batum seemed like the answer. While his contribution had been marginalized with Portland, his efficiency with Carolina had slipped to a career-worst truee shooting percentage of .dddddddddddd516 in 2015-16. But Hornets GM Rich Cho said Batum could do more and do it better.?Read more??International players trend upwardA record 113 players fell under the NBAs definition of international heading into the 2016-17 season. Heres how that number has changed over the past 20 years:11. (45) Andrew Wiggins?|?CanadaMinnesota Timberwolves | SF |?@22wigginsLast years overall rank: 442016-17 projected RPM:?-1.79Insiders scouting report12. (51)?Goran Dragic?| SloveniaMiami Heat | PG |?@Goran_DragicLast years overall rank: 382016-17 projected RPM: 2.32Insiders scouting report13. (53)?Jonas Valanciunas?|?LithuaniaToronto Raptors | C |?@JValanciunasLast years overall rank: 572016-17 projected RPM: -0.42Insiders scouting report14. (58)?Joel Embiid?| CameroonPhiladelphia 76ers | C |?@JoelEmbiidLast years overall rank: NR2016-17 projected RPM: N/AInsiders scouting report15. (61)?Pau Gasol?| SpainSan Antonio Spurs | PF |?@paugasolLast years overall rank: 352016-17 projected RPM: 2.12Insiders scouting report16. (63)?Ricky Rubio?| SpainMinnesota Timberwolves | PG |?@rickyrubio9Last years overall rank: 642016-17 projected RPM: 6.20Insiders scouting report17. (68)?Tristan Thompson?| CanadaCleveland Cavaliers | C |?@RealTristan13Last years overall rank: 592016-17 projected RPM: 0.81Insiders scouting report18. (70) Danilo Gallinari?| ItalyDenver Nuggets | SF |?@gallinari8888Last years overall rank: 692016-17 projected RPM: 1.85Insiders scouting report19. (71)?Serge Ibaka?| CongoOrlando Magic | PF |?@sergeibaka_7Last years overall rank: 282016-17 projected RPM: 1.73Insiders scouting report20. (72)?Evan Fournier?| FranceOrlando Magic?| SG |?@EvanFourmizzLast years overall rank: 1832016-17 projected RPM: 0.11Insiders scouting reportInternational NBA players by countryForty-one countries other than the U.S. are represented in the NBA this season. Here are the nations with the most players:21. (73)?Jusuf Nurkic?| Bosnia and HerzegovinaDenver Nuggets?| C |?@nurkic23Last years overall rank: 1342016-17 projected RPM:?0.96Insiders scouting report22. (78)?Nikola Vucevic?| MontenegroOrlando Magic?| PF |?@NikolaVucevicLast years overall rank: 552016-17 projected RPM: 0.08Insiders scouting report23. (80)?Enes Kanter?|?TurkeyOklahoma City Thunder | PF |?@Enes_KanterLast years overall rank: 1522016-17 projected RPM: -1.63Insiders scouting report24. (91)?Dennis Schroder?| GermanyAtlanta Hawks?| PG |?@ATLHawksLast years overall rank: 1392016-17 projected RPM: -1.09Insiders scouting report25. (92)?Clint Capela?| SwitzerlandHouston Rockets?| C |?@CapelaClintLast years overall rank: 2652016-17 projected RPM: 1.49Insiders scouting report26. (94)?Andrew Bogut?| AustraliaDallas Mavericks?| C |?@andrewbogutLast years overall rank: 662016-17 projected RPM: 2.36Insiders scouting report27. (95)?Nikola Mirotic?| MontenegroChicago Bulls | SF |?@threekolaLast years overall rank: 722016-17 projected RPM: 2.35Insiders scouting report28. (106) Marcin Gortat?| PolandWashington Wizards | C |?@MGortatLast years overall rank: 742016-17 projected RPM: 2.79Insiders scouting report29. (111) Bismack Biyombo?| Democratic Republic of the CongoOrlando Magic | C |?@bismackbiyomboLast years overall rank: 2572016-17 projected RPM: -0.10Insiders scouting report30. (112) Gorgui Dieng?| SenegalMinnesota Timberwolves | C |?@GorguiDiengLast years overall rank: 1542016-17 projected RPM: 1.87Insiders scouting report31. (113) Tony Parker?| FranceSan Antonio Spurs | PG |?@tonyparkerLast years overall rank: 542016-17 projected RPM: -2.27Insiders scouting report32. (115) Patty Mills?| AustraliaSan Antonio Spurs | PG |?@Patty_MillsLast years overall rank: 1622016-17 projected RPM: 2.96Insiders scouting report33. (118) Emmanuel Mudiay?| Democratic Republic of CongoDenver Nuggets | PG |?@emmanuelmudiayLast years overall rank: 1232016-17 projected RPM: -3.51Insiders scouting report34. (120) Ben Simmons?| AustralianPhiladelphia 76ers | PF |?@BenSimmons25Last years overall rank: NR2016-17 projected RPM: N/AInsiders scouting report35. (122) Luol Deng?| SudanLos Angeles Lakers | SF |?@LuolDeng9Last years overall rank: 922016-17 projected RPM: 1.98Insiders scouting report36. (140) Timofey Mozgov?| RussiaLos Angeles Lakers | C |?@LakersLast years overall rank: 782016-17 projected RPM: -1.10Insiders scouting report37. (145) Dario Saric?| CroatiaPhiladelphia 76ers | SF |?@SixersLast years overall rank: NR2016-17 projected RPM: N/AInsiders scouting report38. (147) Kelly Olynyk?| CanadaBoston Celtics | C |?@KellyOlynykLast years overall rank: 1222016-17 projected RPM: 2.85Insiders scouting report39. (148) Matthew Dellavedova?| AustraliaMilwaukee Bucks | PG |?@matthewdellyLast years overall rank: 1982016-17 projected RPM: 1.03Insiders scouting report40. (150) Cory Joseph?| CanadaToronto Raptors | PG |?@Cory_JoeLast years overall rank: 2002016-17 projected RPM: -0.10Insiders scouting report41. (151) Manu Ginobili?| ArgentinaSan Antonio Spurs | SG |?@manuginobiliLast years overall rank: 1252016-17 projected RPM: 3.93Insiders scouting report42. (154) Bojan Bogdanovic?| CroatiaBrooklyn Nets | SG |?@44BojanLast years overall rank: 2442016-17 projected RPM: 4.94Insiders scouting report43. (165) Alex Len?| UkrainePhoenix Suns | C |?@alexlenLast years overall rank: 1772016-17 projected RPM: -1.60Insiders scouting report44. (166) Mirza Teletovic?| Bosnia and HerzegovinaMilwaukee Bucks | PF |?@Teletovic33Last years overall rank: 1682016-17 projected RPM: -0.78Insiders scouting report45. (168) Sergio Rodriguez?| SpainPhiladelphia 76ers | PG |?@SergioRodriguezLast years overall rank: NR2016-17 projected RPM: N/AInsiders scouting report46. (170) Ersan Ilyasova?| TurkeyPhiladelphia 76ers | PF |?@ErsanIlyasova7Last years overall rank: 1312016-17 projected RPM: -3.02Insiders scouting report47. (171) Ian Mahinmi?| FranceWashington Wizards | C |?@ianmahinmiLast years overall rank: 2882016-17 projected RPM: 0.99Insiders scouting report48. (176) Zaza Pachulia?| GeorgiaGolden State Warriors | C |?@zaza27Last years overall rank: 2092016-17 projected RPM: 1.46Insiders scouting report49. (183) Mario Hezonja?| CroatiaOrlando Magic | SG |?@OrlandoMagicLast years overall rank: 2362016-17 projected RPM: -2.29Insiders scouting report50. (187) Thabo Sefolosha?| SwitzerlandAtlanta Hawks | SF |?@ThaboSefoloshaLast years overall rank: 2122016-17 projected RPM: 0.27Insiders scouting report ' ' '