Milan Jovanovic turned down a host of Europe’s top sides to try his luck in the cut-throat world of the Barclays Premier League.

Here, Yves Bouchard, of La Meuse – Belgium’s equivalent of the Liverpool Echo – tells us why he is confident the Serb will make a big impact on one of world football’s biggest stages.

The prospect of plying his trade with one of the world’s best teams is no longer a dream for Milan Jovanovic; it is a reality.

Indeed, a new challenge begins for the Serbian striker – and what a challenge.

Okay, so he will continue to terrorise defences wearing red, but now it is a vintage red.

In his heart he has always been torn between Juventus and Liverpool and now he has realised a boyhood dream to become one of Anfield’s very own.

Ever since arriving in Belgium, amidst a blaze of goalscoring headlines in the 2006-07 season, his future has been the subject of many a rumour.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that initial talks have taken place between Taylor’s representatives, the Triple S agency, and Newcastle over a new contract and a three- to four-year deal is now on the table.

But Taylor will not commit himself until he knows what Newcastle’s squad strengthening plans are for the Premier League campaign.

Taylor’s future on Tyneside has been shrouded in doubt since he suffered a double fracture of the jaw after a training ground incident involving Magpies striker Andy Carroll late last season.

The differences between the pair have been resolved, but a host of top clubs including Arsenal, Aston Villa and ­Chelsea have been eyeing ­Taylor and Hodgson also showed an interest in him ­during his spell at Fulham.

And, despite Newcastle’s insistence that they want to keep Taylor, the odds on him heading for pastures new have significantly increased as top clubs try to sign players who have come through the English academy system as UEFA’s home-grown quota system looms in August.

Leading managers such as Hodgson, Arsene Wenger, Martin O’Neill and Carlo Ancelotti are all keen to boost their English presence and that has made Taylor a hot property.

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young is top of Roy Hodgson’s wishlist as he tries to add British players to his Liverpool team.

Hodgson, who has strongly denied that he is not a big enough name to persuade Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay, will try to find out this week if Villa manager Martin O’Neill is willing to let Young leave.