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Harry Redknapp is tipping Chelsea to miss out on the top four (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)

Harry Redknapp is predicting heartbreak for Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea as the race for the top four heats up in the Premier League.

Frank Lampard was sacked last week as Chelsea slipped further away from the top four – which was considered a minimum requirement by Roman Abramovich at the start of the season.

Tuchel has managed four points from the first available six at Stamford Bridge, which has helped the Blues to within five points of Leicester City in fourth.

Leaders Manchester City remain favourites for the title, while champions Liverpool have shown green shoots of recovery with consecutive wins against Spurs and West Ham in the last week.

Redknapp believes the two teams will battle it out for the title but it’s the final two positions that will cause just as much intrigue.

Chelsea Training Session & Press Conference
Tuchel has been tasked with making the top four (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

‘Top four? Manchester City or Liverpool [will win it],’ Redknapp told Sky Sports.

‘I suppose Manchester City are favourites. I was with Liverpool but I think Manchester City probably. There’s two runners Man City and liverpool and then Manchester United and Tottenham.

‘I do like Leicester, Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job there. They’re the team that could break into it and Chelsea have good players but I’m sticking with Manchester United and Tottenham as third and fourth.’

Chelsea take on Spurs on Thursday in north London, in what could prove a vital match-up in the race to finish in the top four.

Tuchel’s side are yet to concede under the German, who has favoured three at the back since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs have won just one of their last four outings in the Premier League and they were well below-par in a 1-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

Harry Kane is ahead of schedule in his return from a double ankle injury but the striker is expected to miss the visit of Chelsea.

MORE : Arsenal receive major Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boost ahead of Wolves clash


Full Post Here - Harry Redknapp tips Chelsea to miss out on Champions League as Manchester United & Spurs make top four
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Harry Redknapp tips Chelsea to miss out on Champions League as Manchester United & Spurs make top four

Harry Redknapp is tipping Chelsea to miss out on the top four (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images) Harry Redknapp is predictin...
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Will get his chance with Kane out?
Alli was wanted by the French champions on loan – but Tottenham blocked their efforts during the January window. (Photo by Visionhaus)

Dele Alli must be reintroduced to the Tottenham first-team during Harry Kane’s absence, according to Paul Merson, after the midfielder failed to secure a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino had hoped to secure Alli’s services on loan during the January transfer window only for Spurs to reject their efforts to sign him on loan until the end of the season.

Alli has been frozen out of the first-team under Jose Mourinho this season, starting just one Premier League match with the majority of his opportunities coming in the Europa League and in domestic cup competitions.

Tottenham began a run of games without the injured Kane with a 1-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday – with Merson insisting it was a contest that was crying out for Alli’s movement off the ball.

‘I don’t know what’s going on with Dele Alli,” Merson told Sky Sports News. ‘I watched Tottenham last night and how he doesn’t get in that team at the moment is beyond me. I don’t know what goes on at the training ground, but he has to play in that team – especially with Harry Kane injured.

Dele Alli has started just one league game this season.
Dele Alli has started just one league game this season. (Picture: Getty)

‘No one was running off the ball, and Alli when he’s at his best, he makes those runs and is a good finisher. I watched them against Brighton and they were just static. If he plays against Chelsea, you hold your hands up and understand why he isn’t being allowed to go to PSG.

‘Otherwise, I feel for the lad as he has got the chance to play for PSG – a massive club – and he wants to play. Spurs are saying they need to replace him… but they might as well take me if he’s going to just sit on the bench for the next three or four months!

‘The lad’s got to play. On his day, he’s a special player and he’s one of the best talents in this country when he’s on his game.’

Alli liked a tweet featuring a video snippet of Merson’s comments through his personal Twitter account – along with comments from Harry Redknapp to talkSPORT calling for his return to the first-team.

MORE : Tottenham receive ‘pretty good news’ on Harry Kane injury ahead of Chelsea clash

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Full Post Here - Paul Merson insists Jose Mourinho must play Dele Alli after Tottenham block PSG move
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Paul Merson insists Jose Mourinho must play Dele Alli after Tottenham block PSG move

Alli was wanted by the French champions on loan – but Tottenham blocked their efforts during the January window. (Photo by Visionhaus) ...
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has missed Arsenal's last three matches
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has missed Arsenal’s last three matches (Picture: Getty)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in contention to make his Arsenal return against Wolves this evening.

The Gunners influential skipper has missed the last three games in all competitions to keep in-line with Covid-19 protocols after he was forced to tend a private family matter.

Aubameyang last week confirmed that his mother had been taken ill, and although Arsenal refused to confirm whether or not their star striker had left the country to be with her, he missed the double-header against Southampton and last weekend’s stalemate against Manchester United.

The 31-year-old returned to fist team training on Monday, however, and could, according to The Times, force his way back into Mikel Arteta’s line-up for the trip to Molineux.

In his absence, Alexandre Lacazette, Aubameyang’s striker partner and close friend, has assumed greater responsibility and has hit a rich vein of form following a difficult start to the campaign.

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‘It’s linked to confidence and that’s linked to him obviously playing more regular minutes,’ said Arteta when asked about Lacazette’s recent transformation. ‘He’s scoring more goals and he finds himself in better form. Then it’s about supporting our players when they go through difficult moments.

‘We have to be right behind them, we have to talk to them, we have to give them tools to resolve the issues they are going through. Laca has done that by working hard. It’s as simple as that.

‘He committed to work harder, to sticking to what his abilities and qualities are and the moment he transformed a little bit his confidence, he became a different player.

‘[We gave him] A lot of things related to the game. Things he needs to read better about his movement, sometimes about his body language…a lot of things that are important to visualise yourself, then [he needed to] try to correct them.’

MORE : Arsenal’s ex-recruitment chief Sven Mislintat recommended Ozan Kabak to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

MORE : Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles seal Arsenal loan exits as Shkodran Mustafi completes permanent Schalke move

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Full Post Here - Arsenal receive major Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boost ahead of Wolves clash
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Arsenal receive major Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boost ahead of Wolves clash

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has missed Arsenal’s last three matches (Picture: Getty) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in contention to mak...
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Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba is on Liverpool's radar
Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba is on Liverpool’s radar (Getty)

Liverpool made an approach to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba before landing Ozan Kabak from Schalke, according to reports in Germany.

The Premier league champions reinforced their defensive options on deadline day with the signings of Ben Davies from Preston North End before Kabak joined on loan from Schalke for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool also have the option to sign the Turkey international for £18 million this summer if he impresses during his stint at Anfield.

But according to Sport1, Liverpool made a move for Tapsoba before pushing ahead with their deal to sign Kabak.

However, Liverpool ended their pursuit when Leverkusen demanded a €50 million (£44m) fee for the 22-year-old, who was signed by the Bundesliga club last year.

Tapsoba has quickly established himself as one of the best young defenders in the German top flight and was rewarded in December with a new contract which runs until 2026.

Bayer Leverkusen wanted €50 million from Liverpool for Edmond Tapsoba
Bayer Leverkusen wanted €50 million from Liverpool for Edmond Tapsoba (Getty)

Klopp, meanwhile, reveals former Schalke manager David Wagner gave a glowing review of Kabak ahead of the defender’s switch to Liverpool.

‘Dave was already very, very positive about him,’ Klopp told the club’s official website.

‘He came very young to Germany and everybody was clear he was a massive talent.

‘He is only 20 now. He plays in his second club [in Germany]; he is at Schalke and unfortunately they are in a bad position in the moment.

Ozan Kabak has joined Liverpool on loan from Schalke
Ozan Kabak has joined Liverpool on loan from Schalke (Getty)

‘For him, I think it’s a really good moment to make the move because, like each player in the world, you need a stable team around you and that’s what we can deliver.

‘We deliver a stable team and you can play your position, you don’t have to be 20 with pretty much everything on the pitch and not allowed to make mistakes anymore.

‘He’s really a big, big talent and we are really looking forward to working with him.’

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Full Post Here - Liverpool made approach for Edmond Tapsoba before signing Ozan Kabak
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Liverpool made approach for Edmond Tapsoba before signing Ozan Kabak

Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba is on Liverpool’s radar (Getty) Liverpool made an approach to sign Bayer Leverkusen centr...
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Dirk Kuyt has rated Liverpool's deals for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies
Dirk Kuyt has rated Liverpool’s deals for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies (Pictures: Sky Sports / Getty)

Dirk Kuyt says it was important for Liverpool to bolster Jurgen Klopp’s defensive options during the January transfer window but admits Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies are not two players the Premier League club would ‘normally’ target.

The champions are enduring an injury crisis at Anfield – with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all sidelined – leading to the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho dropping into defence.

To compensate for the club’s injury problems, Liverpool completed deadline-day deals for Turkey international Kabak and Preston defender Davies.

Kabak, 20, joins Liverpool on from Schalke, while Davies has signed a ‘long-term’ contract at Anfield after the Reds agreed a £2million deal with Championship side Preston.

Reacting to Liverpool’s deadline day deals, Kuyt – who spent six years at the club – told Sky Sports: ‘They’ve needed cover and it is perfect for Liverpool to bring in two defenders.

‘It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am sure they are ready, normally you don’t see these kind of these kind of deals – but it is a good opportunity. Normally Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t sign this type of players.

‘I watch the Bundesliga often, my friend Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has just gone there – it is a surprise that Schalke let him [Kabak] go.

Liverpool have signed Ozan Kabak on loan
Liverpool have signed Ozan Kabak on loan (Picture: Getty)

‘I think it is a good signing, he is still very young. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play for Liverpool.’

On Liverpool’s deal for Davies, Reds manager Klopp said: ‘It’s probably clear that in a normal transfer window, without any issues, we would not look at Preston [to see] if there’s a player for us or something like that.

‘Since our situation got clearer and clearer – the problems we had – when we saw him we got really excited about it and thought: ‘Wow.’

‘We see the quality and we see the potential as well because he’s 25 and there’s a lot to come for him.’

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Full Post Here - Dirk Kuyt rates Liverpool’s deadline-day moves for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies
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Dirk Kuyt rates Liverpool’s deadline-day moves for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies

Dirk Kuyt has rated Liverpool’s deals for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies (Pictures: Sky Sports / Getty) Dirk Kuyt says it was important fo...
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Katie Boulter of Great Britain reacts in her Women's Singles Second Round Match against Cori Gauff of The United States of America during day three of the WTA 500 Gippsland Trophy at Melbourne Park on February 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.
Katie Boulter claimed a big win (Picture: Getty)

Katie Boulter fought back from a set and a break down to beat Coco Gauff – a player ranked more than 300 places higher than her.

Boulter, the British No. 13, was in big trouble when broken for a third time by Gauff, allowing the American teenager to serve for the match at 5-4 in the second set.

But she dug deep, broke straight back and pulled off an unlikely 3-6 7-5 6-2 win over the 16-year-old in an hour and 46 minutes at the Gippsland Trophy.

This was only Boulter’s second WTA Tour-level match since February, having beaten Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in round one, and a further sign that she is ready to make up for lost time after a back injury suffered on Fed Cup duty in 2019 halted her progress.

The 24-year-old will shoot up the rankings from world No. 371 to around No. 315 and will no doubt be setting her sights far higher as she builds up a head of steam ahead of next week’s Australian Open.

As well as a big jump in the WTA leaderboard, Boulter will get a crack at three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

Coco Gauff of the US reacts during her Gippsland Trophy women's singles tennis match against Britain's Katie Boulter in Melbourne on February 2, 2021.
Coco Gauff was beaten by Boulter (Picture: AFP via Getty)
Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a return against France's Alize Cornet during their Gippsland Trophy women's singles tennis match in Melbourne on February 2, 2021.
Osaka awaits Boulter (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Osaka had thumped France’s Alize Cornet and will eye a third consecutive straight sets win over Boulter when the pair meet in the last-16 of the Gippsland Trophy.

It will be a formidable test for Boulter – who has been as high as 82 in the rankings. US Open champion Osaka is arguably the best hard-courter in the women’s game.

‘I remember playing her in Wimbledon one year,’ Osaka said of facing Boulter next.

‘I don’t remember what year it was [2018], but I do remember thinking she was a really good player, and then I heard that she got injured and now she’s back.

Gippsland Trophy last-16 line-up

Halep vs Siegemund
Alexandrova vs Swiatek
Kanepi vs Kasatkina
Paolini vs Muchova
Mertens vs Garcia
Ostapenko vs Svitolina
Konta vs Begu
Boulter vs Osaka

‘I’m looking forward to playing her. It’s really interesting to play players that are around the same age as me because I feel like we all have the same goals and stuff.’

Osaka could find herself playing another Brit in the quarter-finals, if she defeats Boulter.

British No. 1 Johanna Konta booked her spot in the last-16 with a 6-2 6-3 win over Bernarda Pera. She takes on Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu next.

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Full Post Here - British world No. 371 Katie Boulter stuns Coco Gauff to set up Naomi Osaka clash
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British world No. 371 Katie Boulter stuns Coco Gauff to set up Naomi Osaka clash

Katie Boulter claimed a big win (Picture: Getty) Katie Boulter fought back from a set and a break down to beat Coco Gauff – a player ...
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Rafael Nadal pulled out of Spain's first ATP Cup match with a back problem
Nadal was scheduled to meet Alex de Minaur of Australia on Tuesday. (Picture: Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Spain’s ATP Cup tie against Australia with a back problem less than a week before the start of the Australian Open.

Nadal, 34, was scheduled to meet Alex de Minaur on Tuesday.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘Hi all, we have decided with Team Spain and my team to not play today [in] the first match of the ATP Cup here in Melbourne since I have a stiff lower back. Hopefully I’ll be better for Thursday. We have a strong team.”

Roberto Bautista Agut will step in to face de Minaur in the no1 singles match with Pablo Carreno Busta brought into to take on John Millman – a tie he won in straight sets.

Spain will play Greece on Thursday with Nadal expected to be in action against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

This year’s Australian Open gets underway on Monday February 8 where world No. 2 Nadal will launch his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand along side Filip Krajinovic of Serbia during their Group A doubles match against Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov of Canada during day one of the 2021 ATP Cup at Rod Laver Arena on February 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.
Djokovic won his ATP Cup match (Picture: Getty Images)

While Nadal was forced to pull out of his first match, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic stormed to a straight sets win as Serbia beat Canada 2-1.

Djokovic beat world No. 12 Denis Shapovalov 7-5 7-5 level up Serbia’s tie with Canada after Milos Raonic beat Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-4.

He then returned to the doubles court, teaming up with Filip Krajinovic to beat Raonic and Shapovalov to claim the tie for Serbia.

World No. 3 Dominic Thiem, meanwhile, slipped to defeat against Matteo Berrettini – a particularly disappointing loss after unfancied Dennis Novak had given Austria a 1-0 lead over Italy by beating Fabio Fognini.

Thiem and Novak then went down 6-1 6-4 to Berrettini and Fognin in the doubles.

There were no such problems for Russian world No. 8 Andrey Rublev, who thumped Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-1 6-2.

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Full Post Here - Rafael Nadal pulls out of ATP Cup clash with back injury ahead of Australian Open
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Rafael Nadal pulls out of ATP Cup clash with back injury ahead of Australian Open

Nadal was scheduled to meet Alex de Minaur of Australia on Tuesday. (Picture: Getty Images) Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Spain’s A...
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FC Barcelona v Real Betis - La Liga Santander
Lionel Messi’s contract expires at the end of the season (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman admits he’s ‘not confident’ that the club will persuade Lionel Messi to sign a new deal the Camp Nou.

The Argentine’s contract expires at the end of the season and Messi is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with non-Spanish clubs.

Messi requested to leave the Nou Camp last summer and entered into a messy saga with his boyhood club, with the Argentine’s representatives of the belief that a clause in the forward’s deal allowed him to walk away for free last summer.

That didn’t materialise, despite Messi’s intention to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Ronald Koeman was appointed Barcelona manager at the height of the tensions between Messi and the club.

The Dutchman kept out of the saga but though he insists he’s ‘hopeful’ Messi will remain at the club, Koeman admits he’s ‘not confident’ the Argentine will do so.

FC Barcelona v Girona - Pre-Season Friendly
Koeman insists he has a good relationship with Messi (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m not confident about that,’ Koeman told The Athletic.

‘I’m hopeful, yes, about this because he’s still a great player and he’s still winning matches for us, for the team. I’m enjoying being his coach, if you look at his qualities every day in the training sessions, it’s incredible.

‘Of course, he came as a young kid to Barcelona. And I still don’t see Leo Messi in another shirt other than the Barca shirt.’

Manchester City were leading the race for Messi’s signature last summer and were even willing to put up a fee for the Argentine if it meant a smoother transition to the Etihad.

However, Paris Saint-Germain’s interest is now public and former Barcelona star Neymar is desperately trying to convince Messi to move to the French capital.

Koeman kept himself out of Messi’s dispute with the club’s board last summer and insists he has a good relationship with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

‘I don’t have any problems with Leo,’ continued Koeman.

‘He is the captain of the team, I speak to Leo about tactical things and we have a really good professional relationship that I have with all the players.

‘But he is… OK, he’s the captain, so you always have more communication with him.’

MORE : Arsenal’s ex-recruitment chief Sven Mislintat recommended Ozan Kabak to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp


Full Post Here - Barcelona ‘not confident’ of keeping Lionel Messi amid Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain interest
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Barcelona ‘not confident’ of keeping Lionel Messi amid Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain interest

Lionel Messi’s contract expires at the end of the season (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman admits he’...
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Ozan Kabak has joined Liverpool on loan for the rest of the season
Ozan Kabak has joined Liverpool on loan for the rest of the season (Getty)

Arsenal’s former head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, gave Jurgen Klopp a glowing reference about Liverpool’s deadline day signing Ozan Kabak.

The Premier League champions secured two new arrivals on the final day of the transfer window as Ben Davies joined in a £2 million deal from Preston North End, while Kabak was signed from Schalke.

The 20-year-old has joined on loan for the remainder of the season, but Liverpool also have the option to purchase the centre-back for £18 million this summer.

Mislintat, who spent 14 months at Arsenal, is now Stuttgart’s sporting director and he oversaw the sale of Kabak to Schalke in 2019.

And the former Arsenal recruitment chief has revealed that he spoke with Klopp about Liverpool’s push to sign Kabak from Schalke.

‘I told Jurgen that he’s a top lad,’ Mislintat told The Athletic.

Liverpool have the option to permanently sign Ozan Kabak for £18 million this summer
Liverpool have the option to permanently sign Ozan Kabak for £18 million this summer (Getty)

‘Top mentality, top character, top aggression. He’s a [Dejan] Lovren-type player. Very good in the air, both defensively and in the opposition box.

‘He played his best stuff for us [at Stuttgart]. He hasn’t been able to show how good he is at Schalke.

‘He still needs to learn but he has all the skills for Klopp to make a success of him.’

Meanwhile, Schalke’s former technical director, Michael Reschke, has also praised Liverpool’s decision to sign Kabak.

‘There was no way Schalke could stop him from going to Liverpool now,’ Reschke told The Athletic.

‘If they had refused him a big transfer for a second time, they would have killed him as a player. They knew they had to let him go now.

‘David Wagner [Schalke’s former manager] would have given him a glowing report. He’s not super fast, but he’s very strong and resilient, switched on. He can play football, he wants to win every ball and he’s great in the air.

‘I’d be surprised if he didn’t score a couple of goals from set pieces. He will benefit from a bit of guidance by more experienced players and from Klopp, who tends to improve every player.

‘We shouldn’t forget that he’s still young but getting him in on an initial loan is a superb deal for Liverpool. He will try absolutely everything to make it a permanent deal. I’m pretty sure he’ll make it. He’s got the quality to become an international top-class centre-back.’

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Full Post Here - Arsenal’s ex-recruitment chief Sven Mislintat recommended Ozan Kabak to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
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Arsenal’s ex-recruitment chief Sven Mislintat recommended Ozan Kabak to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Ozan Kabak has joined Liverpool on loan for the rest of the season (Getty) Arsenal ’s former head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, gav...
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