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      Chelsea line up TWO replacements for out-of-favour defender Marc Cucurella with Boehly set to continue splashing cash

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      CHELSEA are reportedly lining up two replacements for out-of-favour defender Marc Cucurella.The left-back, 25, only joined the Blues from Brighton for £62million last summer.
      Chelsea are lining up replacements for Marc CucurellaCredit: Reuters
      But he’s cut a desolate figure after struggling to impress.
      And Cucurella is yet to appear in the Premier League under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, with last night’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton just his second game of the campaign.
      Calciomercato claims Cucurella is now ready to jump ship in January after missing out on a deadline day loan move to Manchester United.
      Chelsea are equally happy to left the Spaniard depart.
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      And it’s reckoned £1billion man Todd Boehly will continue his spending spree, with AC Milan star Theo Hernandez lined up as Cucurella’s replacement.
      The former Atletico and Real Madrid man, 25, has 25 goals in 173 games for his Italian club.
      Hernandez played a key role in their 2022 Serie A title win.
      And he also helped France reach the final of last year’s World Cup, where they lost on penalties to Argentina.
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      AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez is the top choice to replace CucurellaCredit: Rex
      The Blues also fancy Inter Milan’s Federico DimarcoCredit: Rex
      However, Hernandez is tied down to the San Siro until 2026.
      He was also named Milan vice-captain last season, and the Rossoneri will demand a pretty penny to let him go.
      It means Chelsea are eyeing another left-back, this time in Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco.
      The 25-year-old has only had two full seasons in Inter’s first team.
      But during that time he’s won two Italian Cups and two Italian Super Cups, while also reaching last season’s Champions League final.

      Dimarco also knows how to find the net on occasion, hitting nine goals in 105 games for Inter.
      His contract is also up in 2026, but the ace could be available at a more reasonable price. More

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      Is Bournemouth vs Arsenal on TV? Gunners look to bounce back after North London Derby draw – team news, kick-off time

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      ARSENAL will travel to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth on Saturday in a huge Premier League clash.The Gunners secured a spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night after a 1-0 win away at Brentford.
      Reiss Nelson scored Arsenal’s only goal in the Gunners 1-0 win away at Brentford in the Carabao CupCredit: Alamy
      Mikel Arteta made a number of changes to his Arsenal team in midweek, with Emile Smith-Rowe making his first start in 499 days.
      In the Gunners’ last Premier League outing, they drew 2-2 with North London rivals Tottenham after a thriller at the Emirates.
      Meanwhile, Bournemouth also cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round after a 2-0 win against Championship side Stoke City on Wednesday evening.
      The Cherries are still seeking their first three points in the Premier League after a tough start to the season under new manager Andoni Iraola.
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      Arsenal have a fine record against Bournemouth, winning the last seven meetings in all competitions.
      They last lost to the south coast side in 2018, suffering a 2-1 defeat at the Vitality.
      Bournemouth’s only ever result against Arsenal came in a 3-3 home draw the year before.
      And they will have to give everything to ensure they come away with at least a point on Saturday.
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      Arsenal are unbeaten this seasonCredit: Reuters
      What is their form like?
      Bournemouth are still without a win in the league this season.
      They have managed to get three draws along the way though.
      And the Cherries have also racked up two wins in the Carabao Cup, giving them a much needed boost for the weekend game.
      As for Arsenal, they remain unbeaten in all competitions this season.
      But they’ve already been held to two draws in the league.
      The Carabao win over Brentford helped them get over their underwhelming derby performance against Spurs.
      And the Gunners will feel like they’re due a few goals against the Cherries.
      Declan Rice faces a nervy wait over his fitnessCredit: Getty
      What is the team news?
      Bukayo Saka was left out of Arsenal’s midweek cup clash away at Brentford due to a foot injury he suffered in the 2-2 draw against Spurs.
      But Mikel Arteta is ready to throw him into the mix at the Vitality after his Bees break.
      Declan Rice also picked up a knock during the North London derby and was withdrawn at half time due to a back injury.
      Leandro Trossard could make a timely return to the Arsenal squad in time for Saturday, while Bournemouth is likely to come too soon for Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey.
      For Bournemouth, Dominic Solanke is a doubt after being forced off against Stoke in midweek but his side remain hopeful he can make the starting XI.
      Tyler Adams could make his first start for the club after his summer move from Leeds.
      The midfielder came off the bench against Stoke in midweek to get his first minutes for the Cherries.
      Emiliano Marcondes, Alex Scott and Ryan Fredericks are all unlikely to return for Saturday’s clash with Arsenal.
      Who are the star men?
      Dominic Solanke has been in good form for Bournemouth this season.
      He has three goals in the league so far, and will lead the line provided he passes a late fitness test.
      How the key men compare
      Arsenal are in the same boat, with Bukayo Saka also racing to be fit.
      But he sat out Brentford and looks likely to make a stunning return to the side.
      What have the managers said?
      Andoni Iraola: “[Solanke impact] I think it happened pretty similar against Swansea.
      “He came in, he didn’t score, but he was there in the goals and he gave us also different energy against Swansea.
      “I think he’s played well. Overall, the team has been much better in second half.
      “Unfortunately he couldn’t finish the game. Probably the worst part of the evening.
      “We’ll see how he presents, if the ankle is swollen or not.
      “But we have a very tight schedule, not even three days. It’s going to be tough.”
      Mikel Arteta hopes he can call upon Bukayo SakaCredit: Alamy
      Mikel Arteta: “Saka was limping quite badly after the match.
      “We had to get him off the field which is never a good sign.
      “He hasn’t been able to participate in the session. [Bournemouth?] It’s a possibility.
      “[Partey is] still not available. It’s a long list! Still not. The same with Jurrien [Timber].
      “It’s the situation that we have at moment that we have to adapt.
      “The squad we have at the moment is really short and we need players back, that’s for sure.”
      SunSport prediction
      Arsenal have made a strong start to the season.
      While Bournemouth are struggling to impress under their new boss.
      We predict a straightforward win for the visitors, who have too much firepower to not score.
      Result: Bournemouth 0 Arsenal 3
      Arsenal should have too much for the CherriesCredit: Getty
      When is Bournemouth vs Arsenal?

      Bournemouth vs Arsenal will take place on Saturday, September 30.
      Kick off will be at 3pm BST.
      The Vitality Stadium will play host.

      Is Bournemouth vs Arsenal on TV?

      Unfortunately, Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth will not be shown on TV in the UK because of the 3pm blackout rule.
      You can, however, keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

      What are the odds?
      Match result
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      Bournemouth – 9/2
      Draw – 7/2
      Arsenal – 4/9

      *Odds courtesy of Paddy Power and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Saudi Pro League plot new big-money raid on Premier League but fans are united in loving it and say ‘take them all’

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      THE Saudi Pro League is reportedly looking to recruit some of Europe’s leading referees.Saudi clubs spent over £800million on players this summer in a bid to boost the league’s profile.
      The Saudi Pro League is looking to recruit more top officialsCredit: Reuters
      N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez are just some of the stars who swapped the Premier League for the Pro League.
      Meanwhile, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic also made the move.
      However, The Times claim that the Saudi Pro League is now determined to recruit some of Europe’s top referees on a full-time basis.
      Some Premier League officials are allegedly being considered – and fans are thrilled about it.
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      One person tweeted: “They can take them all – especially [Anthony] Taylor.”
      Another added: “Can they take Mike Dean, and Taylor.”
      A third wrote: “Let them have em. They can have our VARs too.”
      While a fourth commented: “Take them all away.”
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      Referees in England and throughout Europe – including some who appeared at the 2022 World Cup last year – have been sounded out about whether or not they would be interested in making the switch.
      International referees have been used by the Saudi Pro League for exceptional matches in the past, but bosses now want to hand top officials season-long contracts. More

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      Chelsea legend warns club they could ‘create next De Bruyne or Mo Salah’ if they sell struggling flop

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      CHELSEA legend Pat Nevin has warned the Blues they could create the next Kevin de Bruyne or Mo Salah if they sell struggling forward Mykhailo Mudryk.De Bruyne, 32, and Salah, 31, left Stamford Bridge early on in their careers after difficult spells.
      Mykhailo Mudryk has endured a difficult opening nine months at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      Kevin de Bruyne departed Chelsea and has gone on to achieve great things at Man CityCredit: AFP
      They have since gone on to become two of the best players in the world at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.
      Mudryk, 22, joined Chelsea midway through last season for £97million from Shakhtar Donetsk as the Blues hijacked Arsenal’s pursuit of the Ukrainian forward.

      But he has endured a difficult first nine months in West London, scoring no goals and assisting just twice in 23 games.
      However, club icon Nevin, 60, who spent five years at Chelsea during the 1980s, believes his former side have to keep faith in Mudryk.
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      Speaking to OLBG, he said: “Mykhailo Mudryk is phenomenal and will come good – Chelsea cannot risk him being another Salah or De Bruyne.
      “There’s a reason why Arsenal wanted Mudryk – he’s phenomenal. His pace is ridiculous and so are his skills.
      “He had different problems to everyone else as he was a Ukrainian lad coming into a new country.
      “There was also a massive transfer fee hanging over him, though the pressure is slightly off now due to the other fees Chelsea have paid.
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      Mo Salah is another ex-Chelsea star that has thrived elsewhereCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ex-Chelsea man Pat Nevin wants the Blues to stick with MudrykCredit: Getty
      “I think he has the potential to be a great forward and a great creator.
      “He came into a side that wasn’t playing well, but he didn’t make it easy for himself. His numbers last season were not good.”
      Mudryk has had to deal with a tough time off the pitch as his home country continues to fight a war with Russia.
      But Nevin, who won the second tier during his time at Chelsea, feels the Ukrainian will eventually settle and fans will see the best of him.
      He added: “I always look at the underlying player and I don’t think Chelsea want to lose him. Chelsea know better than anyone that if you let a player go, they can be world-class somewhere else.
      “He came in in January, which is a tough time for players to arrive. It’s early days this season, and I still have great hopes for Mudryk when the team starts clicking.
      “That could be later this season or next season. He has all the qualities that defenders hate playing against.
      “If Chelsea did cut their losses, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him shine somewhere else. He’s still only 22. You’d expect him, and a lot of other Chelsea players, to start finding their best form.
      “The problem is, you have so many players who aren’t at their peak yet, and that’s why you need experienced players like Thiago Silva or Ben Chilwell to help the team gel.
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      “It’s just not clicking as well as everybody at the club would have hoped.”
      Next up for Mauricio Pochettino’s men is a West London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday. More

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      Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali heads to dressing room AGAIN but fails to crack a smile despite Blues’ win over Brighton

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      CHELSEA co-owner Behdad Eghbali re-entered the dressing room after the club’s 1-0 win over Brighton on Wednesday.The Stamford Bridge chief has paid a visit to Mauricio Pochettino and his players after every match he has attended this season.
      Chelsea clinched a 1-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup on WednesdayCredit: AP
      Behdad Eghbali entered the dressing room after Chelsea’s win over BrightonCredit: Twitter @gary_cotterill

      He shook hands and greeted squad members and coaching staff following Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday before being chased down by a group of angry supporters.
      And Eghbali returned to the dressing room following the club’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
      However, he still looked far from happy.
      Chelsea have endured a terrible start to the season.
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      They currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with just five points from six games.
      That’s despite the fact that over £1billion has been spent on players since Todd Boehly and Eghbali took over last summer.
      Boehly allegedly tore into the Chelsea squad following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in April.
      He spent an HOUR ranting at the players before singling out a senior star.
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      However, Pochettino has made it clear that he is perfectly comfortable with the owners entering the dressing room.
      He said: “I like when the owners come. In all my career as a coach, at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain before and after. I think it is good that the owner came to the dressing room.
      “It’s the way they approach the player is important, if they are in a good way then they are very welcome. After my press conference after the game against Aston Villa, they came and chill with us, like normally.
      “Also against Liverpool, Luton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, they came with Paul and Laurence and Behdad.
      “We talk about the game. I don’t see it in a bad way. For me, it’s good always if they share with us and they can say hello to the players. It would be different if they came for a speech or something, but with the way that they came of course they are very welcome.
      “They own the club, they can do whatever they want. We are so glad they came and shared with us – even when it’s good things and we won the game, but even on Sunday where we lost and we are suffering.” More

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      Newcastle fans fume at Carabao Cup draw as they spot former Premier League rival ‘having a good look’ for their number

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      NEWCASTLE fans were left raging after they spotted ex-Sunderland star Don Goodman looking at the balls before drawing the Toon away at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.Eddie Howe’s men booked their place in the fourth round on Wednesday evening with a superb 1-0 win over Manchester City at St James’ Park.
      Newcastle sealed their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a win over Man CityCredit: Getty

      Former Sunderland man Don Goodman proceeded to draw Newcastle against Man UtdCredit: Sky Sports
      Shortly after the match, they then received another tough tie in the shape of Man Utd at Old Trafford.
      It was conducted by Sky Sports presenter Emma Saunders, Celtic legend Neil Lennon and former Sunderland man Goodman, 57.
      And it was ex-Black Cats star Goodman who drew the away sides as he pulled out Newcastle’s No16 to hand them a trip to Man Utd.
      But eagle-eyed fans spotted him looking at the balls just before he drew the Magpies from the bowl.
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      And they were not happy with Goodman, who played for rivals Sunderland between 1991 and 1994, as the Newcastle faithful took to social media to vent their frustration.
      One person said: “What we have here ladies and gents is none other than ex Sunderland player Don Goodman having a good look for that number 16. Absolutely disgusting.”
      Another added: “Looks away after he puts 16 into his hand.. worst acting ever 😂😂.”
      A third replied: “That absolutely stinks.”
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      Goodman played for Sunderland for three years during the 1990sCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      While a fourth responded: “I love how he finds the ball and then pretends to not look!”
      Newcastle have been handed several tough draws already this season.
      After being given Man City in the Carabao Cup third round, they were then drawn against PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan in the Champions League group stage.

      But Howe’s side have bounced back from three defeats in a row by going on a four-match unbeaten run.
      A 1-0 win over Brentford was followed up by a goalless draw away at AC Milan.
      They then dispatched Sheffield United 8-0 at Bramall Lane, before their victory over Man City on Wednesday night. More

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      Chelsea fans ‘realise Cucurella was playing wrong position for a year’ as Pochettino tactical tweak revives £60m star

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      CHELSEA ace Marc Cucurella stunned fans during the Carabao Cup clash against Brighton as manager Mauricio Pochettino placed him in a different position.Cucurella has been playing mostly as a left-back ever since his £62million move to the Blues last year but has struggled to stand out.
      Chelsea fans praised Marc Cucurella after his performance against BrightonCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino tried Cucurella at right-backCredit: Rex
      However, Pochettino tried him out at right-back against his former team and the Spain international excelled.
      The 25-year-old handled Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro very well and helped the West Londoners punch their ticket to the fourth round.
      Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s winner in the 50th minute.
      And fans were left amazed by Cucurella’s performance and took to Twitter to give him his flowers.
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      One fan tweeted: “We have a new right-back. Marc Cucurella, welcome to the new role.”
      Another commented: “Pocketed Mitoma and Joao Pedro . What a shift for him.”
      A third posted: “Cucu my man of the match.”
      This fan said: “Cucurella was absolutely brilliant in that second half, playing that well at right-back was not something that I expected, fair play to him, maybe he should be given more opportunities.”
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      And that one wrote: “Marc Cucurella Appreciation tweet. Left-back playing as right-back. Pocketed Mitoma. Pocketed Joao Pedro. Give him his flowers.”
      Chelsea will face Blackburn in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at home.
      Pochettino’s men are now gearing up for Monday’s Premier League clash with London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage. More

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      Chelsea suffer another huge injury blow as Pochettino gives worrying Ben Chilwell update

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      CHELSEA’S injury crisis shows no sign of letting up after vice-captain Ben Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury during their win over Brighton.The Blues skipper on the night, thanks to Reece James being missing through injury, was forced off in the final minute of seven added on.
      Ben Chilwell started at left back in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clash with BrightonCredit: Getty
      The England international suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win and was forced offCredit: Getty
      Chelsea finished the game with ten men having used all their substitutions and Mauricio Pochettino confirmed afterwards that Chilwell, who suffered two separate hamstring injuries last season, had sustained an injury.
      He said: “Is Chilwell injured? Yes.
      “We need to assess it tomorrow but I think it is hamstring.”
      Chelsea are already without eight first-team players through injury, including summer signings Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia.
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      Right-back Malo Gusto is also suspended for the next two games following a straight red card against Aston Villa last weekend.
      Nicolas Jackson, who scored his second Chelsea goal in the Carabao Cup win against the Seagulls, will miss Monday’s game with Fulham.
      The match-winner has collected five yellows in six Premier League games so far this season.
      Despite Chelsea’s injury crisis, England Under-21 Noni Madueke still cannot get into the squad.
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      Nicolas Jackson bagged the winning goal in the 51st minuteCredit: Getty
      The winger has recovered from injury but Pochettino confirmed last night that his absence was down to “selection” and not fitness.
      Victory over the Seagulls brought Pochettino some brief respite from his troops’ domestic woes.
      The 51-year-old said: “Very pleased with the performance.
      “It is important to go through to build our momentum.
      “Very pleased for Jackson, when a striker scores it is important, he needed to feel the net.
      “An important game for him, I am very pleased for him.” More