The Ivory Coast international has become one of the most sought-after talents in Europe on the back of his exploits in Serie A. Chelsea still battling for Kessie Still only 20 years of age, the energetic midfielder is considered to be a hot prospect for the present and future. His potential sparked plenty of transfer talk ahead of the winter window, with the likes of Liverpool and Juventus credited with holding an interest in his services....

The Brazilian midfielder spent four years at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup during that time. He is now set for a £20 million-per-year contract in the Chinese Super League. “Oscar will arrive in Shanghai in the coming days and he will become a member of our team,” read a statement from Shanghai SIPG. “The playmaker, who is renowned for his attacking abilities, will help the club push for the title in the new season....

Wayne Rooney normally wears the captain’s armband for England, but has been left out of the squad for the match in Dortmund as a knee injury has limited his playing time at Manchester United. Cahill: I can never replace Terry Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has deputised for Rooney under Southgate before, however he too is unavailable because of a foot injury. Southgate has consequently decided to name Cahill as captain, with the centre-back acting as skipper for Chelsea this term with John Terry out of favour in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system....

The Southampton man has been involved in his country’s last 10 goals - with the nation well placed to compete for a spot in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, up against the likes of the Republic of Ireland and Wales. Serbia’s national team has a host of players from the Premier League and Tadic has given his thoughts on Chelsea midfielder Matic, Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov and Liverpool starlet Grujic....

Torres suffers horrific head injury The Spaniard suffered a head trauma after he crashed to the ground following an aerial challenge and, after being treated by medical staff on the pitch, was then quickly rushed to hospital. Both sets of players and staff were visibly shaken up by the incident, with Atleti defender Jose Gimenez particularly distressed as he covered his face with his shirt. Atleti initially confirmed that Torres had suffered a head trauma and that he would spend the night in hospital....

Bakayoko can be Chelsea’s Vieira Antonio Conte targeted Bakayoko as their first choice option to strengthen their midfield and they are now expected to allow Nemanja Matic to leave to make room for the France international. Talks between Chelsea, Monaco and Bakayoko’s representatives have moved slowly since they first started but all parties ultimatley came to an agreement for the 22-year-old. Bakayoko returned from his holiday in New York to complete the final arrangements of the transfer, though a knee injury could rule him out of the Blues’s pre-season friendlies....

Mark Hughes’ side are in good form and gave the Blues a scare at Stamford Bridge as they hurt the league leaders in the air, but they ultimately lost in an epic 4-2 thriller. Kante is more than just a good tackler, says Fabregas Chelsea are 10 points clear at the top of the table and are looking like strong favourites to win the title, but a defeat could renew hope for Tottenham and Manchester City, who chase the west London club....

Morata made a brilliant impact off the bench as the Blues suffered a 3-2 loss against Burnley on the opening day of the new season, scoring one and setting up David Luiz for the other. And the Spaniard has been preferred to Michy Batshuayi for Chelsea’s visit to Wembley Stadium, with the Belgium international dropping to the bench as a result. There is also a first start for Bakayoko following his summer move from Monaco, with Andreas Christensen replacing Gary Cahill, who misses out through suspension....

The 21-year-old midfielder linked up with the Eagles on a season-long agreement over the summer in an effort to find regular game time. Palace 11/5 to draw at Brighton With his path blocked at Stamford Bridge, it was felt that his development would be better served elsewhere – while still operating in a Premier League environment. Loftus-Cheek has impressed for Palace, earning senior England international recognition in the process, and Hodgson has confirmed that Chelsea can take him back....

City’s lead at the top was cut to five points by United on Tuesday, with Chelsea a further six points back ahead of hosting Swansea City. Chelsea 22/1 to win title Pep Guardiola’s side have been flying atop the table with 12 wins from 13 matches, scoring 42 goals and conceding just eight. Conte said Chelsea simply needed to focus on overtaking United, not high-flying City. “We have to look at ourselves and not the others....

Eden Hazard, meanwhile, is also named as a sub as he is again made to wait for his first start for the club in the 2017-18 campaign. Arsene Wenger’s side are without Ozil, as earlier reported by Goal, who is carrying a minor injury while Sanchez starts as a substitute after playing 90 minutes for the Gunners in their Europa League win over Cologne on Thursday. Summer signings Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac both start the game with Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi supporting the French striker in attack....

Antonio Conte’s side saw their Carabao Cup hopes dashed at the semi-final stage by Arsenal during the week and they will be eager to respond with a positive result at home. The Blues have already beaten the Magpies at the venue this season, with Eden Hazard starring in a 3-1 win back in December, and Conte will demand a repeat of that on Sunday. However, Rafa Benitez’s men come into the tie well rested, having had no mid-week cup game to concern themselves with, and they will be eager for revenge....

Five scientists died in last Thursday’s explosion, of what was reportedly a new type of nuclear-powered cruise missile, on the White Sea coast in the country’s Arctic north. But uncertainty persists among residents in Severodvinsk, 25 miles east of the Nyonoksa test range, where radiation readings were elevated after the accident. Neither Russia’s defense ministry nor the state nuclear agency, Rosatom, mentioned the type of rocket that exploded during the test....

“I’m ready to let the training wheels off,” Charles said Wednesday. “I don’t want them on. I know how to ride. Take them off and let me ride.” WEEK 6 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread Charles was active two weeks ago against the Steelers, but only played 10 snaps and carried the ball twice for 7 yards in a 43-14 loss. Now Charles claims to be “110 percent....

The Chiefs trading away their 33-year-old starting QB is a move to the future. Mahomes, like Hunt, will be entering his second NFL season in 2018, and Kansas City thinks its 2017 NFL Draft investment is ready. “I’m very excited for Pat. He’s a great quarterback,” Hunt told Sporting News on Thursday. “I know he’s going to be just fine by going out there and just playing football. “He has great football instincts, an amazing strong arm....

The Chiefs have placed the running back on injured reserve after his knee was further evaluated this week by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, NFL Media reported on Tuesday. FANTASY: Week 9 waiver pickups Charles, who has torn the ACL in both his knees throughout his career, now requires another surgery to alleviate swelling in one or both of the knees, according to the report. Though the severity of the injury remains undisclosed, he is expected to miss at least eight weeks as he recovers from the procedure....

Kansas City’s coaching staff is no exception, with Chiefs special team coordinator Dave Toub shuffling the deck a bit in the preseason game vs. Chicago. After Kansas City scored a touchdown late in the first half, Toub called on the team’s starting safety, Justin Reid, to kick the PAT. He proceeded to put his kick right down the middle. The decision to give Reed a go at kicker didn’t exactly come out of thin air....

The Chiefs faced fourth-and-1 from the 49ers’ 5-yard line in the first quarter when coach Andy Reid called a play that was one part Notre Dame box, one part Temptations performance. Patrick Mahomes and his three backfield mates spun into a single wing formation, with running back Damien Williams getting the direct snap behind an unbalanced line. Mahomes added to the trickeration by faking a pitch to the deep back....

For years, the world has speculated nervously on when China’s President Xi Jinping will finally make good on the Chinese Communist Party’s vow to annex Taiwan, an island off the east coast of the People’s Republic of China, a spark that threatens to ignite a hot war between Beijing and Washington. Ukraine offers Beijing a hazy window into its own future. Russia’s many failures and miscalculations in its blitzkrieg, and Moscow’s struggle to control in Ukraine against a fierce, well-armed, and highly motivated resistance, are tough meat for Xi’s Taiwan planners to chew on....

The announcement comes only days after Moscow said it would conduct a snap combat readiness inspection of its troops in the Russian Far East amid growing alarm in world capitals over the prospect of an invasion of Ukraine. Last week, talks between Russian and Western officials failed to yield a breakthrough to calm Ukrainian fears about the Russian military presence on its border. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied it plans any incursion into its neighbor....