No Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku tonight amid speculation they could both be heading for the exit.

"They are both Chelsea players and we'll see what happens," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told Channel 5 before kick-off.

Under way at a sunny Stamford Bridge.

Another familiar face in the Bayer Leverkusen camp is Erik ten Hag, who was appointed boss in May after Xabi Alonso moved to Real Madrid.

The last time Ten Hag managed a team at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer scored twice deep in stoppage time to earn the Blues a 4-2 win over Manchester United.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Is Alejandro Garnacho worth £50m?

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

No such problems for Chelsea when it comes to signing players. This summer they have spent around £230m, including £60m for Brighton's Brazil forward Joao Pedro, 23, and £48.5m for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, 21.

And there could be more arrivals at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Chelsea are in talks with Manchester United for £50m-rated Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.

For Newcastle, the football couldn't come soon enough with the transfer window proving rather difficult.

Alexander Isak is pushing for a move away from the club and, after missing the tour of Asia, he will not be taking part tonight.

After being turned down by Benjamin Sesko, the hunt for a new striker goes on.

Eddie Howe has named a Newcastle starting XI with mixed experience in it.

Alexander Isak is of course missing with ongoing speculation surrounding his future but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale makes his debut after joining from Southampton.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Hall, Schar, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Burn, Guimaraes, Park, Miley.

Subs: Ruddy, Gillespie, Kool, Murphy, Heffernan, Harrison, Bailey, Charlton, Sanusi, Shahar, Neave.

For Espanyol, their bench has a somewhat familiar name on it with Tyrhys Dolan.

The 23-year-old left Championship side Blackburn Rovers upon the expiry of his contract to join the La Liga side.

Espanyol XI: Dmitrovic, El Hilali, Rubio, Cabrera, Romero, Pol Lazano, Exposito, Sanchez, Rocha, Puada, Roberto.

Subs: Fortuno, Calero, Milla, Carreras, Ramon, Bauza, Tristan, Hinojo, Dolan, Garcia, Terrats, Salinas.

Bayer Leverkusen

Jarell Quansah was part of the Liverpool team that got a traditional champions' guard of honour from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in May in what was the Reds' first game after clinching the title.

The Warrington-born defender, 22, has since moved to Germany for £35m and starts for his new club tonight.

Estevao Willian, 18, makes his first appearance for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge against Bayer Leverkusen in this friendly match.

Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato could make their debuts from the bench.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Estevao, Palmer, George, Delap.

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Flekken, Tapsoba, Hincapie, Quansah, Grimaldo, Adli, Maza, Andrich, Garcia, Tella, Schick,

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter at St James' Park

Much has changed elsewhere since Newcastle United last played at St James' Park on the final day of last season.

But there will be a familiar look to the side who line up against Espanyol following a series of setbacks in the transfer window.

Where do you even begin?

Benjamin Sesko could have been sitting in the directors’ box tonight, but the RB Leipzig striker is instead finalising a move to Manchester United.

Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford, Dean Huijsen and Liam Delap are just some of the other targets who have opted to move elsewhere.

How Newcastle need a breakthrough in the coming days.

Luke Edwards
Daily Telegraph writer on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle have become the football equivalent of 'The Undateables' this summer because of the amount of people they have tried to sign and been rejected by.

They go in for elite targets but every time they do, one of the legacy big six comes in too and snaps them up.

Unfortunately, as good as Eddie Howe's side have been since the takeover, they are not seen as an elite club in the transfer market.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea, of course, have been crowned world champions since they last played at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle? Well, they just want to sign somebody.

This time next week fans will be streaming into Anfield for the first Premier League match of the new season - champions Liverpool against Bournemouth.

Before that loads more friendlies as teams fine-tune plans and show off expensive new signings.

This live text is concentrating on two games:

• Chelsea v Bayer Leverkusen (19:00 BST)
• Newcastle v Espanyol (19:30 BST)