Thibaut Courtois is winning the race to become the No 1 goalkeeper at Chelsea.
Barring any last-minute injuries to the Belgian he is set to play in front of Petr Cech against Burnley on Monday night.
Jose Mourinho’s decision to select the 22-year-old ahead of Cech, who has been regular first-choice at the club since he joined a decade ago from Rennes, throws into doubt the player’s future.
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Rising star: Thibaut Courtois looks set to start for Chelsea against Burnley on Monday night
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Champion: Courtois (centre) won La Liga with Atletico Madrid last season
Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Real Madrid are all understood to be keen on signing Cech.
They have been waiting to see the outcome of Mourinho’s decision ahead of making a move for the Czech.
Courtois has been on loan at Atletico Madrid for the previous three seasons and was part of the side which shocked Madrid and Barcelona to win the Spanish La Liga and reach the Champions League final last season.
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Big call: Jose Mourinho's decision throws Petr Cech's future at Stamford Bridge into doubt
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Stalwart: Cech has been Chelsea's No 1 goalkeeper since joining the club in 2004
Mourinho is confident that he can juggle both goalkeepers in the campaign ahead but admitted on Friday that the player not chosen as his No 1 would undoubtedly consider their future at the club.
Cech, 32, must now decide whether he is prepared to spend the majority of the season on the bench or start a new chapter in his career at another club.
“The money is there - and we will look to improve at the top end of the field until the very end of the window" says boss seeking to replace Luis Suarez.Kop chase: Liverpool are still looking at Falcao (right) and Plan B Cavani
Brendan Rodgers has promised to pursue a world class striker right up to midnight on deadline day.
Liverpool boss Rodgers has had Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani on his hit-list after selling 31-goal player of the year Luis Suarez to Barcelona, but admits he is struggling to attract a goal-scorer capable of improving his attacking side.
Rodgers said: “The money is there - and we will look to improve at the top end of the field until the very end of the window.
“It’s not easy to get a top level striker, no. But we have to keep looking. We certainly need something, because we haven’t brought in another striker so far, apart from Rickie Lambert.
“You just never know what will happen in that last week - the window will always throw up something. We will persevere, and the boys are working hard behind the scenes to see what information we can get on the availability of players.”
Despite receiving a knock-back from world-class Monaco hitman Falcao, Rodgers hasn’t completely given up all hope of the Reds snaring the Colombia international.
The 28-year-old, back in action after a knee injurt that kept him out of this summer's World Cup, has set his heart on a move to Real Madrid and has dismissed any alternative - despite being desperate to leave France.
But sources in Spain suggest there is no chance of a deal to take the former Atletico Madrid star to their city rivals, which leaves the faint prospect of a move to Anfield instead.
Rodgers is prepared to wait until the last few hours of the window on September 1st, and offer the prospect of a year long loan deal... which would allow Falcao to keep his options open.
If not, Liverpool will pursue Paris Saint-Germain's Edison Cavani - a player he greatly admires - as an alternative, even though the Uruguayan, Suarez's international strike partner, has also played down the prospect of a switch.
The Kop club's fans were underwhelmed by the idea free agent Samuel Eto’o, now 33, could arrive as a stop-gap replacement for the departed Suarez, but Anfield insiders suggest that is very much a last resort option.
Swansea captain Ashley Williams says his team will not be distracted by the circus that will surround Louis van Gaal's first game in charge of Manchester United in the Premier League.
Swansea travel to face United at Old Trafford on Saturday where all eyes will be on van Gaal and his new 3-4-1-2 formation in his first domestic match in charge.
But Williams is staying focused on Swansea's system under manager Garry Monk, who is starting his first full term in charge at the Liberty Stadium.
"We couldn't really have got a bigger game, but the spotlight is obviously with them as they've got a new manager and it's on their ground," said Williams.
"We won't worry about them. We've been working on a system, how we want to play. We need to concentrate on that really and go into the game positive.
"I don't think we can judge anything on the Man United teams we played last season because this team will be different with the new manager"
Ashley Williams
"For us, we're just concentrating on ourselves, whoever the opponent is. We're aware we're going away to Old Trafford, but I think in these type of games we need to worry about ourselves and what we're doing.
"Let's be honest, everyone will be tuning in to see what the new-look Man United are doing. The only people worrying about Swansea will be Swansea fans."
United opened last season under previous manager David Moyes with a 4-1 win at Swansea but Williams is expecting a different challenge this time around.
"I don't think we can judge anything on the Man United teams we played last season because this team will be different with the new manager," he said.
"Much has been made about the formation they're playing which will be the same as Holland played in the World Cup.
"It will be different and it's funny that we're playing them again like last season. But we're ready. We had a positive pre-season - it's been really good.
"I wanted a good one but it's probably the best I've ever had and I know we've got a strong squad. "We've had a high turnover of players, but I feel confident in the players I've got around me."
Wayne Rooney feels he has matured enough to lead by example in his new role as Manchester United captain.
New United manager Louis van Gaal appointed Rooney captain earlier this week, reminding the England striker he needs to be a role model for the club's younger players on and off the field.
Rooney has had disciplinary problems in the past but he feels he is up to the task of being a responsible, and successful, captain at Old Trafford."It's a massive role to take on - I'm aware of that, the responsibility of it - and I feel I'm ready at this stage in my career to do it," Rooney told United Uncovered.
"I spoke to the manager and he decided that I was right to take the role which I am delighted with. It's a great honour.
"I will perform the role as best I can and hopefully help the team to be successful.
"I've played under some great captains for club and country so I will take a little bit of what they have brought to the role and try to use that.
"Then I'll try to lead the players on the pitch with hard work, dedication, and that's what we really want to do - we want to show the fans that we care and want to win.
"I think I'm quite vocal on the pitch and in the dressing room.
"I think the manager has looked at that and seen that I'm always trying to get the best out of myself and my team-mates and to encourage as well. I'm sure that was a big factor in the manager choosing me."
Van Gaal also revealed he does not think Robin van Persie will have a problem being overlooked for the role.
"It was not difficult," Van Gaal said. "I didn't say it to him (Van Persie). He was not there at that moment.
"I told it personally to Wayne, then I had to choose the vice-captain, then I had to say it to my players. This is a different situation to the Dutch national team.
"I think you always have to choose a native captain. I don't think there's any problem."
Crystal Palace looked doomed to relegation last November, but Tony Pulis revitalised the team and carried them to midtable respectability. How will the club fare now he has gone?
Tony Pulis at Crystal Palace. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Football is a dramatic soap opera when it wants to be, as Thursday night’s events in south London proved. In a spectacular twist that would not be out of place on Eastenders, Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace less than 48 hours before their first match of the Premier League season against Arsenal.
The Eagles picked up just seven points from their first 12 league games last season under Ian Holloway and caretaker manager Keith Millen, and were considered favourites to drop back into the Championship at the first time of asking. In November, however, and on the same day as their impressive 1-0 away win at Hull City, Pulis was confirmed as new Palace boss and some optimism returned to Selhurst Park.
Having resigned themselves to relegation, supporters were now beginning to believe that Pulis could guide them to safety, regardless of the defeat to Norwich City in his first match. Pulis won 38 points from 26 matches during his short reign. Had the season started when Pulis took charge, they would have finished eighth. His exploits did not go unnoticed, with the 56-year-old deservedly winning the Premier League manager of the year award.
A breakdown in relations with co-chairman Steve Parish over a lack of transfer funds was the last straw for Pulis. Other managers are available, but none of them are likely to do a better job than Pulis. He boosted morale in a squad devoid of confidence and the results duly followed.
Palace lost just one of their last eight league games last season, a run that included memorable wins over Chelsea and Everton and, of course, the unforgettable 3-3 draw with Liverpool. Losing a manager of his ability will lower their chances of securing top-flight status this term, with some bookmakers instilling them as third favourites to be relegated.
Infographic: WhoScored
First and foremost, goals were pivotal at both ends. Palace were shipping an average of 1.75 goals per game prior to his appointment, but that figure dropped to 1.04 with him in charge. At the other end of the pitch, the team scored more goals per game (0.96) in the 26 games Pulis managed, a sufficient rise from the 12 games Holloway and Millen took charge of (0.58) last season. The team averaged marginally more shots per game (11.1) under Pulis than in the previous regime (10.5), but the number of shots on target per game rose notably (from 2.8 to 4.2).
Palace were a more clinical side under Pulis, presumably as a result of the confidence he instilled. His players were trusted to be more daring and, in turn, this translated to more goals being scored and more points on the board. Unsurprisingly, Palace averaged less possession (35.3%) in the last 26 games of the season than they did under Holloway and Millen (41.8%), this approach having become a trademark of Pulis.
Infographic: WhoScored
The feisty manager prefers his teams to remain compact and allow the opposition to have the ball, so they can hit them on the counter-attack when necessary. Moreover, Pulis has regularly favoured the long-ball game and while this isn’t always pretty, it can be effective. The style of play may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing, but it secured positive results and in their first season back in the top-flight, this was the priority.
Malky Mackay, Tim Sherwood and David Moyes, among others, have been linked with the job at Selhurst Park, but it remains to be seen how the new man will fare. Pulis worked wonders during his time in south London and the Palace board should try to bring in a coach with a similar level of grit and determination as they attempt to consolidate their position as a Premier League club.
Louis van Gaal's Manchester United reign begins in earnest on Saturday in the Red Devils' Premier League season opener against Swansea at Old Trafford.
After what has seemed like a long few weeks after the climax of the World Cup, the Dutch supremo finally gets to taste competitive action, with an expectant crowd hoping for a positive start to his tenure.
A new formation could be in the offing, with van Gaal expected to field a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 system after deploying such tactics during the club’s pre-season tour of the US.
One beneficiary of such a switch could be Juan Mata, who is likely to be used more centrally. The Spain star notched six goals in 15 league appearances for United last season, compared to zero in 13 for Chelsea earlier in the campaign.
This encounter is a repeat of both of these sides' opening-day clash last season, with David Moyes’ reign getting off to an impressive start thanks to two goals apiece from Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck in a 4-1 win for the then champions at the Liberty Stadium.
Opta facts
Manchester United have never lost on the opening weekend at Old Trafford in the Premier League (W8 D3).
Wayne Rooney currently has 173 Premier League goals and needs two more to draw level with the third top scoring player in PL history (Thierry Henry – 175).
Manchester United’s points total of 64 last season was their lowest since 1990-91.
Swansea have won exactly 11 games in each of their last two Premier League campaigns.
Garry Monk’s men will be hoping to spoil van Gaal's coronation this time around, despite losing some key men over the summer.
Michel Vorm, Michu and Ben Davies have all been pivotal to the Swans establishing themselves as a top-flight outfit, but after the trio departed for pastures new - along with Spanish duo Chico and Pablo Hernandez - Monk must ensure his new-look side are competitive at Old Trafford.
Swansea’s three previous matches on the opening weekend of the Premier League season have produced 14 goals, and a repeat would ensure excitement for all concerned on Saturday.
New United signing Luke Shaw will miss out on Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury which could keep him out for up to a month.
Shaw: Must wait for debut
Michael Carrick is also set to be sidelined for a substantial period with a foot injury, while Anderson, Rafael and Antonio Valencia will all not feature.
Jonny Evans, van Persie and Welbeck will be assessed before the match, but could miss out.
Swansea welcome back Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge. Both wingers missed the Swans' final pre-season game at home to Villarreal last week - Routledge had a foot injury, while Dyer was attending the birth of his son.
But Monk is without knee-injury victims Leon Britton, Marvin Emnes and Jay Fulton for the trip to Old Trafford.
Paul Merson's prediction
I think this is a great first game for Louis van Gaal because I think Swansea might struggle this season. Michu has gone and it doesn’t look like Jonathan de Guzman will be there much longer and those have been big players for them in recent years. I don’t know where they’re going.
I think Man United are a certainty to win this game and I think they will have a much better season. Van Gaal will have a big advantage because he’ll only be playing one game a week.
Arsenal begin their 2014/15 Premier League campaign on Saturday evening with a home tie against a Crystal Palace side in turmoil following the departure of manager Tony Pulis.
Despite only taking the reins at Selhurst Park in November last year Pulis went on to collect the Premier League Manager of the Season accolade, but opted tostep down from his roleon the eve of the new campaign following crisis talks with club co-chairman Steve Parish.Pulis earned the plaudits of many when he steered Palace away from a relegation dogfight and up to 11th in the Premier League standings, though, this remarkable turn of events sees the Eagles travel to the Emirates Stadium managerless and with spirit extinguished.
Meanwhile, morale is buoyant in the Arsenal camp after Arsene Wenger’s side ended their nine-year trophy drought by lifting the FA Cup back in May.
The Gunners backed up their victory with a3-0 thumpingof Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield last Sunday, with Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud all netting as Arsenal launched an early warning salvo.Both sides enter the new campaign with contrasting aspirations; Arsenal desperate to break into the top two after a nine-year exile, while Palace - who retained top-flight status for the first time in the Premier League era last term – must first stay afloat before looking any further.
Palace bounced back from a dreadful start to the season – losing nine of their opening 10 matches – to restore pride with a highly-respectable mid-table finish.
Conversely, after 24 matches Arsenal found themselves top of the Premier League ladder last term but were unable to see the job through to completion as they slid to fourth in the final table.
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Arsenal v C Palace
August 16, 2014 4:45pm
However, their extra-time victory over Hull City at Wembley Stadium has brought renewed hope to the Emirates and the acquisition of Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona during the close season further bolstered their credentials.Palace too have been active in the summer transfer market, bringing striker Fraizer Campbell in from Cardiff City as well as defenders Martin Kelly and Brede Hangeland.
Arsenal will be without the services of England’s Theo Walcott as he continues his recovery from the ACL injury which kept him out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Sanchez: Poised for action
Summer signing David Ospina, the Colombian goalkeeper, is also set to miss out on the season opener with a thigh problem, but French defender Mathieu Debuchy is in line for his Premier League debut in Arsenal colours following his arrival from Newcastle.
Wenger holds hope Laurent Koscielny will overcome a minor Achilles problem to take his place in the squad, but German World Cup winning trio Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker will all be given extra time after a late return to pre-season training.
Palace look set to start their season without defensive duo Damien Delaney and Jonathan Williams through injury, but Adrian Mariappa is close to recovering from a hip injury.
Paul Merson’s prediction
I still think Arsenal are a couple of players short. They need a world-class holding midfielder and a centre-half with major pace because they play on the half-way line and their defenders need to be quick. I think they will beat Crystal Palace, but it will be a tight game – there will be no cricket score here.
Arsenal showed in the Community Shield that they’re as good as anybody when a game opens up, but Palace are going to sit with 10 behind the ball and give them no space. They will frustrate them and try to catch them on the counter-attack, exactly like Villa did this time last year. If Arsenal win this it will be a very hard win – it won’t be a walkover.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his team to win the Premier League title for the first time in a decade.
Arsenal face managerless Crystal Palace in the league opener on Saturday on a high after last weekend's 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.
"I believe we have a chance because we were a long time top of the league last year," Wenger said.
"It is difficult to know how much better the other teams will be. We have some challenges we have of course to face that we did not face well last year, and that means we have to take more points from the top teams.
"That will be our real challenge this year and also to keep the consistency against the teams who do not fight for the championship.
"We finished fourth last year and made 79 points. Man City won it with 86, so it was very tight in the top four, that is one or two games.
"If you win against them, they have three points less and you have three points more, that means it is down to one game. So it is very difficult to predict. The only thing you know is that it will be tough."
Arsenal ended their nine-year barren run with an FA Cup final victory in May and Wenger is confident they have the platform on which to mount a sustained assault on the championship.
He added: "With the confidence of winning a trophy there is a little bit of weight off the shoulders that is for sure, but we want to show that and transform that into efficiency in our performances.
"The favourites you have again Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Man United and us. Then you have Everton, they were very dangerous last year as well and could be candidates. How well will Tottenham respond?
"There is no hierarchy in the teams I give you, there is no priority - they are just the obvious candidates."
Bastia boss Claude Makelele will face former club Paris St-Germain in his second game as a manager, on Saturday.
The former Chelsea and PSG midfielder left his role as assistant boss at the Parc des Princes this summer to take over at the Corsican club.
They drew 3-3 with Marseille in Makelele's managerial debut, while champions PSG were held 2-2 by Reims.
"We weren't expecting him to leave us, but I'm not disappointed," PSG boss Laurent Blanc said.
"It was what he wanted, it was his choice and he was right to seize this opportunity. We would have preferred that he continued to work with us, but I'm happy for him. I hope he has a great career as a coach.
"We know Claude very well, but he also knows our team very well.
"We are preparing for this match very seriously because, with all due respect, I think we dropped two points against Reims.
"Even if we didn't play an exceptional match, we should still have been good enough to win. We need to play well at home to make up for it, this Saturday at the Parc des Princes."
Javi García has left Manchester City FC for FC Zenit in a reported €15m transfer, the midfielder saying he wants "to help my new team as soon as possible".FC Zenit have made Javi García their second signing of the summer, agreeing a reported €15m fee with Manchester City FC for the midfielder.The two-cap Spanish international has penned a five-year deal with the Russian club, who play R. Standard de Liège in the UEFA Champions League play-offs. "I am happy to be a Zenit player and want to help my new team as soon as possible," he said. "I had several calls from [coach] André Villas-Boas, and he is one of the main reasons I am in St Petersburg."
The 27-year-old will link up once again with Ezequiel Garay – Zenit's other summer recruit – and Axel Witsel, having played alongside both in three seasons at SL Benfica. The former Real Madrid CF academy product and CA Osasuna man scored two goals, including one on his debut against Stoke City FC, in 53 Premier League appearances for Manchester City following his switch from Benfica in August 2012.
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