ESPN FC’s Alexis Nunes and Paul Mariner square off in Premier League predictor. Who will come out victorious this week?
LONDON — Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic could make their first Chelsea starts against Newcastle on Sunday, head coach Maurizio Sarri confirmed.
Both men came off the substitutes’ bench to make a decisive impact as Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-2 at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, with Hazard creating the winning goal for Marcos Alonso and Kovacic completing all of his 43 attempted passes in an energetic cameo.
Asked if Hazard will start against Newcastle, Sarri said: “I don’t know. I think that Eden is…

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Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri talks about Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga transfer speculation.

With Thibaut Courtois insistent on a move away from Chelsea, the FC crew evaluate his potential replacement: Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea completed the loan of Croatia international Mateo Kovacic on Thursday after having previously reached an agreement with Real Madrid on his season-long move.
Kovacic, who moved as part of the deal that sent goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Madrid, will help manager Maurizio Sarri round out the squad as the “midfielder with different characteristics” he said he wanted earlier this week.
The 24-year-old appeared in five games for Croatia during the World Cup but refused to rejoin Madrid this…

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FC’s Paul Mariner sifts through all the latest rumours surrounding Paul Pogba, Luka Modric, Ousmane Dembele and many more in Rumour Rater.

Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic will join Chelsea on a season-long loan deal as part of the deal that sees goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois move to Real in a permanent deal.

Kovacic, who was part of the Croatia squad that made a surprise run to the World Cup final in Russia this summer, arrives at Stamford Bridge hoping for more regular first-team opportunities after three years spent on the fringes of Madrid’s starting XI.
His arrival could pave the way for Tiemoue Bakayoko to leave Chelsea,…

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Julen Lopetegui says there is a buoyant mood at Real Madrid ahead of the new season.

Real Madrid’s Julen Lopetegui insists his transfer wishes with the club are private but believes Luka Modric and Matteo Kovacic will stay put.

Gareth Bale provided a goal and an assist in the first half as Real Madrid cruised to a 2-1 victory over Roma.

Thibaut Courtois is linked to Real Madrid, but Shaka Hislop thinks Los Blancos’ current keeper Keylor Navas isn’t getting the respect he deserves. Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic both trained on Wednesday morning amid continuing speculation that one or both could leave the club.
Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said after Tuesday’s 2-1 International Champions Cup victory against Roma that Kovacic “wants to leave,” with a loan move to Chelsea being reported in Spain although a permanent transfer is also possible ahead of Thursday’s Premier League window closing.

Transfer news must-reads
- Transfer Talk LIVE: The very…

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Gareth Bale provided a goal and an assist in the first half as Real Madrid cruised to a 2-1 victory over Roma.

Thibaut Courtois is linked to Real Madrid, but Shaka Hislop thinks Los Blancos’ current keeper Keylor Navas isn’t getting the respect he deserves.
Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed that while Mateo Kovacic wants to leave the club, he is reluctant to see such an “important player” exit the Bernabeu.
Speaking after Real Madrid’s final preseason friendly — a 2-1 International Champions Cup win over Roma in New Jersey — Lopetegui addressed the rumours surrounding the 24-year-old, as well as his compatriot and Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.
“There’s nothing 100 percent certain,” Lopetegui said. “Mateo has said he wants to leave,…

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The ESPN FC guys believe Russia’s “World Cup final” was against Spain and doubt their ability to reproduce a similar performance.
Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic is watching most of the World Cup from the same position he experienced a lot of the 2017-18 club campaign with Real Madrid: the bench.
Kovacic has won three Champions League titles and the 2017 La Liga trophy during his time at the Bernabeu, but there still remains the feeling that his career has stalled.
The midfielder played 36 games across all competitions during 2017-18 for Madrid, however he completed the 90 minutes just four times in La Liga and started…

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The World Cup always delivers some surprises, so the FC crew key in on the teams with potential to shock the world, for better or worse.
The World Cup will see a number of this summer’s top transfer targets in action. David Amoyal rates how likely some rumoured moves are to take place — before what happens in Russia changes the odds.
Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United: 15 percent
Few players enter the World Cup with more pressure than the former Juventus midfielder. After a difficult season at Manchester United, there has been speculation he could return to the Serie A champions or join Paris Saint-Germain once their Financial…

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With Spurs and Dortmund still to play for Real, the FC panel debate if Madrid missed a chance to pad their goal differential.
Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic could be out of action until November after suffering a partial adductor tear.
Kovacic suffered the injury during Real’s 3-0 Champions League win over Apoel Nicosia on Wednesday and was substituted in the 25th minute.
“Following the tests carried out on Mateo Kovacic, the player has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the adductor muscle tendon in his right leg,” a Madrid statement said.
AS reported that the 23-year-old could be out of action for at least six…

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