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      Eden Hazard’s Real Madrid future in doubt as ex-Chelsea star ‘knows Vinicius Jr is ahead of him’ in pecking order

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      EDEN HAZARD is aware that Vinicius Jr is ahead of him in the pecking order at Real Madrid in a further blow to his Bernabeu career, reports suggest.Hazard has failed to live up to expectations ever since his staggering £90million move to Real from Chelsea in 2019.
      Real Madrid ace Eden Hazard’s future has become uncertainCredit: Rex
      Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is ahead of Eden Hazard in the pecking orderCredit: Rex
      A string of injuries have limited the winger to a mere five goals and nine assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.
      According to Marca, the Belgium international is seeing a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up slipping through his fingers.
      That is because the 30-year-old is being outshined by Vinicius, who has enjoyed a stunning start to his season.
      The 21-year-old winger has already registered three goals in as many games and has earned Ancelotti’s trust.
      Therefore, the Italian manager seems to prefer a front three consisting of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and the Brazil international.
      Hazard is aware of this and understands his future at the Santiago Bernabeu has become quite uncertain.
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      This comes after Real spent the summer transfer window cutting down on spending following the coronavirus pandemic’s financial impact.
      Los Blancos are also determined to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe either in January or next summer.
      Mbappe’s contract with PSG runs out in June and the star striker seems to be on his way to the Spanish capital.
      But the France international will cost a hefty fee, even as a free agent, and more room may have to be made in Real’s books.
      That makes Hazard’s future in Madrid even more precarious and so a move elsewhere could be on the cards.

      Eden Hazard turns up to pre-season training in great shape as Real Madrid hope ex-Chelsea star will finally find form More

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      Chelsea trail Juventus in Tchouameni transfer chase but Serie A giants fear France role will hike up Monaco star’s price

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      JUVENTUS are leading the race to sign Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni but could see his price tag go up, reports say. Chelsea have been among the clubs interested in the French midfielder, who signed for Monaco in 2020.
      Juventus are leading the race to sign Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reportsCredit: Rex
      But according to Tuttosport, Juve are the front runners in the pursuit for 21-year-old Tchouameni.
      He made 42 appearances last season, including 36 in the league and was even voted Ligue 1 young player of the year.
      Tchouameni’s impressive form earned him a call up to France’s first-team, debuting in a World Cup qualifier at the start of the month against Bosnia.
      He followed it up with two more appearances in games with Ukraine and then Finland.
      Tchouameni’s emergence in Didier Deschamps is said to have clubs fearing his price tag could now rocket.
      His international team-mate Paul Pogba was quick to praise his midfield partner and the maturity he has showcased.

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      Manchester United’s Pogba told RTL: “Very, very good. He’s not a boy, he’s a man.
      “It’s a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy.
      “A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality.
      “We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side.”
      Dimitar Berbatov reviews the unfair football stories of Premier League fans More

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      Chelsea sweating on Christian Pulisic’s fitness after limping off injured just 60 minutes into USA match with Honduras

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      CHELSEA have a growing list of injury worries ahead of Saturday’s game with Aston Villa after Christian Pulisic suffered a knock.The winger hurt his ankle during the United States’ win over Honduras on Wednesday night.
      Chelsea will soon determine the severity of Christian Pulisic’s ankle injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Both club and country are sweating over the full diagnosis of the blow although USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter described it as a ‘slight’ injury.
      He said: “Christian has a slight ankle injury.
      “We’re going to get more info on it when he goes back to London, the severity of it.”
      The 22-year-old has not enjoyed a straightforward start to the new campaign.
      After starting in Chelsea’s first two matches, and scoring against Crystal Palace, Pulisic caught coronavirus and was ruled out for a fortnight.
      Absent for the USA’s World Cup qualifying draw at El Salvador, he was fit to captain the side against Canada on the weekend.

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      But he lasted only 62 minutes of the 4-1 victory against Honduras in San Pedro Sula after a painful collision with ex-Wigan star Maynor Figueroa.
      Pulisic had earlier set up Fulham’s Antonee Robinson for the equaliser as the States came from behind to win.
      The winger is not the only Chelsea worry ahead of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.

      Romelu Lukaku will have a scan on a long-standing thigh problem following his spell with Belgium.
      N’Golo Kante left France duty early due to an ankle injury and will be assessed by Chelsea.
      Two players definitely absent are the suspended Reece James and Thiago Silva, who has been ruled out for five days after skipping Brazil’s games.

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      Watch Christian Pulisic fall off boat onto huge fish while juggling ball as Jadon Sancho trolls Chelsea star More

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      Chelsea face fixture congestion as Japan ‘will NOT host Fifa Club World Cup in December but could stage it next year’

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      CHELSEA could be facing a fixture pile-up after reports claimed the Club World Cup was set to be postponed.The Blues are one of the sides taking part in the competition after their Champions League success over Manchester City in May.
      Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side could be facing nightmare fixture congestionCredit: Reuters
      The Blues are due to compete in the Club World Cup after last season’s Champions League joyCredit: AP
      Japan was due to host the tournament but because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they are set to relinquish the right to host it.
      Kyodo News Agency states: “The Japan Football Association has decided to relinquish its right to host this year’s Club World Cup due to the Covid-19 restrictions and is in discussion with Fifa.”
      The decision has allegedly been made not to play it out in Japan due to the risk of increasing infections.
      And the difficulty of delivering a profit because crowds are expected to be capped is also a major reason behind the nation’s expected official pull-out from hosting duties.
      However, no official announcement has yet been made.
      The JFA’s talks with Fifa may also see the competition pushed back to early next year.

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      A Fifa spokesperson told AFP: “Details of the next Fifa Club World Cup will be confirmed in due course.”
      But the Mail states Qatar is the ‘obvious alternative venue’ for Fifa.
      World football’s governing body wants fans to be able to attend their ‘flagship club competition’.
      And after the controversial decision to proceed with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – and the recent resignation of the nation’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga – his successor is unlikely to give the green light for football supporters to travel to Japan for the showpiece.
      The Club World Cup was last held in Japan in 2016.

      And the JFA had planned to host the 2021 edition as part of its centenary anniversary celebrations.
      It usually takes place in December but last year’s edition was postponed until February due to the pandemic and was held in Qatar and won by Bayern Munich.
      But a similar decision could leave Chelsea struggling with a potential congested fixture problem should they still remain in all competitions.
      The EFL Cup will be in its final stages by then while the FA Cup will also be underway.
      And with the Premier League in full-swing, the Champions League knock-out stages will also be about to begin.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge
      Saul Niguez impresses in training with Chelsea More

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      Chelsea ‘monitoring Jules Kounde’ ahead of January transfer swoop after missing out on Sevilla defender in summer

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      CHELSEA are prepared to bid again for Jules Kounde in the hope of finally signing the defender in January, according to reports.Sevilla rejected an approach from the Blues late in the summer transfer window, despite the Premier League side being confident of sealing a deal.
      Jules Kounde remains a Chelsea target following his failed summer switchCredit: Getty
      Having signed a striker in Romelu Lukaku and bolstered his midfield with Saul Niguez’s deadline day move, Thomas Tuchel is said to want a new centre-back as a top priority.
      The sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham and the end of 36-year-old Thiago Silva’s contract next summer has heightened the need for a new recruit.
      As reported by Evening Standard, Kounde remains a top target and will be tracked by Chelsea over the coming months.
      The France international, 22, has a £68million release clause and is under contract to 2024.
      But he was reportedly furious after he was denied a move to Stamford Bridge by Sevilla.
      The LaLiga side were said to be willing to do a deal for below his release clause but rejected Chelsea’s £42.8m offer.

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      Director of football Monchi has claimed that the Prem title challengers were given a deadline to launch their bid, which they missed.
      He said: “It was an important offer, considering the current world where there are so many hardships, but it did not meet our demands, conditions, or quantities.
      “I spoke to the player’s agent some time ago because the more time that passed, the more difficult it would be for him to leave. We put as a deadline the [August] 20th, and we extended that to the 25th.

      “We responded with a counter-offer with a deadline of last Friday night (August 27) and they have not responded.”
      Chelsea also hope to secure the long-term futures of defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
      Discussions over new contracts are underway with the German’s deal expiring in June.

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      Jules Kounde joins Sevilla in training More

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      Hakim Ziyech breaks silence after being accused of ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by Morocco manager in major row

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      HAKIM ZIYECH has taken aim at his Morocco manager after being accused of ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.Vahid Halilhodzic dropped the Chelsea star from his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Guinea.
      Hakim Ziyech has hit out at his Morocco managerCredit: Reuters
      The reason behind the decision was not immediately clear with Ziyech, 28, back from a recent shoulder injury and the venues not being on the UK’s red list for travel.
      But Halilhodzic, 69, then alleged that the player had arrived late for previous international duty, refused to play, and set a bad example for younger players.
      Ziyech, who has 35 caps and 16 goals for Morocco, posted his reply on his Instagram stories.
      He wrote: “Next time when you speak, SPEAK THE TRUTH THEN…!!! [sic]”
      Accompanying the jibe was a clown-face emoji and it was not the first Ziyech has sent in his manager’s direction.
      After being left out of the squad, the midfielder posted a laughing-face emoji which many took as a response to his situation.

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      Halilhodzic had earlier fumed: “Ziyech’s behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player.
      “As a leader of the team, he has to be a positive role model.
      “He arrived late, and then even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards – as a coach the answer is right there to see.
      “For me the national team comes above everything. Nobody can hold it hostage.
      “For the first time in my career I have seen behaviour that disappoints me.
      “A player who refuses to play a game, admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that he is injured.

      “The medical staff made several examinations, and said he was fit to play.
      “He then refused to warm up in the second-half, because he was disappointed to be a substitute.
      “For me that type of behaviour is unacceptable. You can’t cheat with the national team.”

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      Hakim Ziyech trains with the Morocco international team More

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      London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham raise over £200,000 for mental health charity Mind from pre-season contests

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      LONDON’S Premier League rivals raised over £220,000 for charity with their pre-season Mind Series matches.With summer tours off the agenda for Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea this year, the trio squared off against each other to help raise money for the mental health organisation.
      Fans returned to stadiums for the summer Mind SeriesCredit: Getty
      The tournament was a big success with £228,064 raised for Mind, as well as the three clubs’ own charitable foundations.
      Players also took part in mental health awareness sessions to help engage fans in supporting those around them.
      Eric Dier, Christian Pulisic and Rob Holding spoke on a video call with young supporters who use Mind’s services.
      Paul Farmer, Chief executive of Mind, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of support shown by the fans, players and staff alike over the course of The Mind Series.
      “We know how powerful a platform football can be to create change and having the backing of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to help us put a spotlight on mental health has been invaluable.
      “Alongside the awareness raised, the Series has also surpassed all our expectations in the amount of funds it has raised for our vital local and national services.

      “At a national level, funds raised will help support our Infoline and other advice services which have been inundated with enquiries since the pandemic began.”
      On the pitch, there were also heartwarming scenes as Spurs fans showed their support for Bukayo Saka following the Arsenal and England star’s Euro 2020 heartbreak and subsequent abuse online.
      The Gunners fell to defeat in both matches, losing to Chelsea thanks to a late Tammy Abraham goal before Son-Heung min struck Tottenham’s winner in the North London derby friendly.
      Spurs then came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

      Watch emotional moment Arsenal legend Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne embrace as they meet at Classic Shirts exhibition More

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      Chelsea target Saul Niguez’s amazing recovery from horror injury that left him ‘pee blood’ from kidney trauma for years

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      CHELSEA target Saul Niguez put his health at risk to play for Atletico Madrid after suffering a kidney trauma and internal bleeding.The courageous Spain midfielder, 26, has reportedly been offered to the Blues in a loan deal.
      Saul Niguez is being lined up for a loan move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
      In 2015, Niguez suffered a critical kidney injury during a Champions League gameCredit: Getty
      But, after an accidental kick to stomach from Bayer Leverkusen defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos during a 2015 Champions League match, Saul’s career hang in the balance.
      He was forced to wear a catheter to empty his bladder for two years and admittedly ‘p***ed blood’ as he played well beyond the pain barrier.
      Saul recovered from his ordeal to become one of Diego Simeone’s most trusted allies.
      BORN TO BE A FOOTBALLER
      It was Saul Niguez’s destiny to become a footballer.
      His dad, Jose Antonio (better known as Boria) was a legend at Elche in the 1980s.
      So it was natural for Saul to follow in the family business, as have brothers Jonathan and Aaron, who both made it pro.
      However, it was Jose Antonio’s youngest son who appeared to have the most talent.
      Saul was scouted by Real Madrid aged 11, before moving to their crosstown rivals in 2008.
      He made his senior debut two years later in a third division game with the reserves, before appearing for the first team in a Europa League match against Besiktas in 2012 aged just 17.
      Saul’s father Jose Antonio Niguez, better known as Boria, was an Elche legend
      Jonathan, mum Pilar, Saul, Boria and Aaron pose for a family snap
      A bicycle kick in a 4-0 rout of crosstown rivals Real Madrid put Saul on the map in 2015Credit: AFP
      A season-long loan at Rayo Vallecano in 2013-14 established his credentials as one of the more promising players of his generation.
      When Saul returned to the club, Simeone was ready to thrust the exciting talent into his line-up.
      An early standout performance came in the 2015 Madrid derby, when he scored a bicycle kick to set Atletico up for a 4-0 win over Real, after replacing the injured Koke 10 minutes in.
      HEALTH RISK
      On no less than his Champions League debut, Saul’s football career was turned upside down.
      An innocuous clash with Kyriakos Papadopoulos in a game against German side Bayer Leverkusen left him writhing in agony.
      The blow to his chest “destroyed” his kidney, according to Atletico president Enrique Cerezo.
      Astonishingly, Saul carried on but was substituted just before half-time, before his body began to shake, he lost feeling in his legs and arms in the dressing room and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
      He stayed in a German hospital for four days, while the blood was drained. Within a month, he was back on the pitch.
      Secretly, though, Saul was playing with an internal catheter. Remarkably, something he managed for two years.
      The sacrifice saw him play in huge discomfort, while putting his life at risk for his club.
      “In every training session and every game I p***ed blood,” he revealed.
      A blow to his kidney left Saul writing in agonyCredit: Getty
      Incredibly, Saul continued before he was helped off the pitch before half-timeCredit: Getty
      Saul spent four days in a Leverkusen hospital recovering
      “It was pretty bad, something difficult that people do not know or understand.
      “I was risking my health to put on the club colours, to chase the dream.”
      He later explained to The Guardian: “The catheter gives you functionality but it was sore, you’d feel it running, and I was urinating blood.
      “The problem was when we took it out, my kidney didn’t work properly. I was given options: play for a month, stop for a month … I said: ‘No, no, that’s no good. Put the catheter back in, I can function.’ But they said: ‘Saúl, it’s not that simple.’
      “I was tired of it all and I said: ‘Doc, just take the kidney out. Take it out. I’ll be out for a month, but then I’ll be back again. The doctor was saying: ‘I’m not taking your kidney out;’ ‘Try this;’ ‘Try that.’
      “I said: ‘Yeah, I’ll try things but if they don’t work, then what? More of the same?
      “No. I just want to get back to playing well, feeling well. Forget it all. Be normal. Play football. I can’t be worrying about getting a knock. I just want to play. Take it out.’”
      SOUND ADVICE
      It was Simeone’s former assistant, the hulking German Burgos, who delivered sage advice to Saul and made him think more about his future.
      The Argentina coach, nicknamed El Mono, is a cancer survivor after seeking treatment in 2003 during his playing days.
      Saul played through the pain barrier and secretly wore a catheter for two years on the pitchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Atletico Madrid’s former assistant manager German Burgos convinced Saul that his health was more important than footballCredit: Atletico Madrid
      “Mono Burgos was so important,” Saul revealed.
      “He came to me: ‘The doctor says you’re talking about taking out your kidney. You’re 22! What are you talking about? Use your head.’
      “I was just thinking about football: take this out and play. I thought: lose a kidney, it’s fine, I’ve got another one.
      “But Mono told me what he went through, he looked me in the eye: ‘Saúl, think about your life.’ I saw. The seriousness, the future.
      “What if you get a problem with the other one? There’s no way out. And we put the catheter back in.”
      Saul’s kidney problems have longtime ceased, and he was an integral part of Atletico’s LaLiga campaign – helping his team reclaim the title.

      Since his ordeal, he has also vowed to give back to the game by setting up Club Costa City – a centre that’ll pride itself on grooming the stars of tomorrow, while giving them a good education and lessons on nutrition.
      Whatever happens next in Saul’s life, you can bet he will tackle it head on.
      A move to the physical Premier League certainly won’t deter Simeone’s warrior in the middle of the park.
      Saul now plays catheter free and his kidney problems have ceasedCredit: Rex Features
      Last season Saul was an integral part of Atletico’s LaLiga winning side and celebrated landing the title on the pitch with Wag Yaiza and their son
      Rio Ferdinand tips Man Utd to make last transfer and urges Solskjaer to sign ‘perfect’ Saul Niguez or Declan Rice More