Tottenham Have Now "Targeted" £213k-p/w "Absolute Monster"

Tottenham Hotspur have now "targeted" Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic as an "ideal replacement" for Harry Kane, and they have already started to sound out a potential deal, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has indicated that Tottenham are willing to pull out all the stops to keep Kane in north London, with the club willing to make him the highest-paid player by offering him a deal worth around £400k-per-week.

However, the talisman is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract to extend his stay beyond the end of next summer, and rumours about his future continue to swirl, with German champions Bayern Munich very much interested in signing him.

Bayern's honorary president, Uli Hoeness, is confident the Bundesliga club will buy the striker this summer, as he has signalled he wants the move, however Paris Saint-Germain are also now emerging as potential suitors.

Unlike two summers ago, when the England captain expressed his interest in joining Manchester City, he will not push to leave N17 this summer, but he is keeping his options open, amid interest from Bayern Munich.

PSG are willing to make a formal approach for the 29-year-old, but only if he changes his stance and makes it clear he is willing to leave Spurs, and now the club are starting to run the rule over potential replacements.

One such player is Vlahovic, with Galetti now reporting the Lilywhites have taken "the first steps" to sound out a potential deal, and to better understand the Serbian's current situation at Juventus.

With the possible departure of Kane, Tottenham have now targeted the 23-year-old as he is viewed as the "ideal replacement", presumably by new manager Ange Postecoglou.

They will have to hijack the deal from PSG however, as Galetti has since claimed the French giants have already agreed an €11m (£9.4m) per year salary with the player – though he reaffirms there is still competition from Spurs.

How much would Dusan Vlahovic cost?

The striker would not come cheap, as transfer insider Dean Jones has reported that he could cost as much as £70m, while there is also the small matter of offering him a suitable wage package.

In his current deal, the Serbia international brings home £216k-per-week, meaning Tottenham would probably have to be willing to make him one of their top earners to bring him to N17 this summer.

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Despite being hailed as an "absolute monster" by members of the media, the Juventus striker has not been at his best over the past year, averaging just 0.35 penalty goals per 90, compared to 0.55 from Kane during the same time period.

However, at 23-years-old, Vlahovic is still very young, and he has previously demonstrated he is capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring 38 goals in 58 Serie A games across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Tottenham will be hoping that Kane decides to commit his long-term future to the club, but if he is tempted by a move to Bayern or PSG, then they may have already found a brilliant replacement.

Celtic: £110k p/w Ace "Would Love" To Join Rodgers

Celtic former player Kieran Tierney 'would love' a return to Parkhead this summer; however, there are 'major hurdles' in the way of that becoming a reality, according to journalist Anthony Joseph.

What clubs has Kieran Tierney been linked with this summer?

As per Football Insider, Newcastle United have made Tierney their top left-back target following the news that Fulham defender Antonee Robinson has signed a new five-year deal at Craven Cottage.

Tierney faces an uncertain future at Arsenal and this has enabled Newcastle United to get themselves in 'pole position' to bring in the £110k-a-week ace. Manchester City have also explored a potential swoop for the Scotland international as Pep Guardiola looks to bolster his backline.

Last month, The Scottish Sun reported that Tierney wouldn't rule out making a sensational return to boyhood club Celtic this window. However, a compromise would need to be made over his hefty pay packet and the Hoops would also need to pay a sizeable loan fee to secure his services, with a permanent deal believed to be out of the question.

Aston Villa plan to rival Newcastle United and Celtic to try and sign the 26-year-old as Unai Emery sets his sights on a reunion with Tierney, who he brought to Arsenal in a £25 million deal back in 2019.

In his previous spell at Celtic where he won eleven domestic honours, Tierney made 170 appearances in total and registered eight goals and 37 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Joseph thinks that although Tierney 'would love' a return to Celtic, any notion of that happening is unlikely.

Joseph stated: "I'm sure he would love to come back to Celtic. I'm sure Celtic would love to have him back as well.

"But I think there will be some major hurdles to overcome for that to actually happen now."

What has happened to Kieran Tierney?

It's not outwith the realms of possibility, though Celtic would need to shell out significant money to sign Tierney on a loan agreement, which will likely mean the Hoops pass on trying to acquire their former fan favourite.

Tierney played second fiddle to Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko for lengthy spells last term; nevertheless, he still amassed 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and laying on two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney.

Sofascore show that Tierney was still a reliable deputy when called upon by Mikel Arteta and managed to win 72% of his ground duels across the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Progressive carries is an area where the Isle Of Man-born defender excelled in last season in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, completing around 2.89 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the top 20% for this metric.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will be keen to make a few statement signings this summer in order to keep his side at the top of the Scottish game and has a £30 million transfer budget to spend on new arrivals, as per The Scottish Sun.

In the next few weeks, we will find out more about where Celtic's recruitment priorities lie as the Hoops' boss shapes his squad ahead of 2023/24 getting underway.

Sky Sports Reveal Man Utd Interest In £30m "Colossus"

Manchester United are believed to be keeping tabs on Fiorentina midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat, following the recent capture of Mason Mount.

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

According to Sky Sports journalist, Dharmesh Sheth, the 26-year-old – who has a year to run on his existing deal in Italy – is said to be a player that United are "looking at", albeit with any deal said to be "contingent" on possible player sales at Old Trafford.

This comes amid a report from the Daily Mail which has claimed that the Red Devils are ready to revive their interest in the Moroccan international after previously monitoring his situation in January, with the player's current side said to be ready to sell for a fee of around £30m.

As per Manchester Evening News, Erik ten Hag's side are reportedly considering whether to move for another midfielder, despite having only just wrapped up a deal for Mount.

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

As Sheth stated above, a pursuit of the former Club Brugge maestro is likely to depend on any possible outgoings at the Theatre of Dreams this summer, with there a potential for Amrabat's capture to allow United to cash in on Scotland international, Scott McTominay.

Man United's Scott McTominay

The latter man – who has been linked with a move to Newcastle United of late – is reportedly valued at around £40m by Ten Hag and co, with uncertainty mounting as to whether the 26-year-old will remain at the club beyond the end of the summer.

Previously described as "not good enough" by club legend Roy Keane, the academy graduate was restricted to just ten Premier League starts last term following the signing of Casemiro, having been unable to truly establish himself under the former Ajax boss.

As such, it would be no surprise if McTominay was to be sent packing by the acquisition of Amrabat, with the Fiorentina star having previously shone under Ten Hag's tutelage, after registering 11 goals and assists in 50 games for FC Utrecht while the Dutchman was at the helm.

Lauded as a "colossus" by talkSPORT pundit Stuart Pearce after shining for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, the Netherlands-born ace could potentially offer a more creative midfield presence to that of McTominay.

That is shown by the fact that while the current United man ranks in just the bottom 6% for progressive passes and the bottom 17% for attempted passes among those in his position in Europe, Amrabat, by contrast, ranks in the top 8% and the top 11% for those same two metrics, respectively, thus showcasing his front-foot approach.

Equally, Amrabat's superior composure in possession is illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% for pass completion, while McTominay ranks in just the bottom 46% in that regard.

Also described as "extraordinary" while on international duty by Spain boss Luis Enrique, the United target can also chip in defensively having averaged 1.3 tackles per game from his 29 Serie A outings last term – the same as what the Lancaster native achieved in 24 Premier League appearances.

With Amrabat clearly something of an all-round package – as well as being a player that Ten Hag is familiar with – sealing a deal must surely be something of a priority for the Red Devils before the season kicks off next month.

Timber Talks At "Advanced Stage" Claims Sky Reporter

Talks between Arsenal and Ajax over the transfer of Jurrien Timber are at an "advanced stage" as the player himself "wants the move", claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Arsenal transfer news – What's the latest on Jurrien Timber

The Gunners were agonisingly close to ending their almost two-decade title drought last season, but a lack of squad depth, especially in defensive areas, cost them in the end.

It looks like Mikel Arteta and the board don't want that happening again, so they have greenlit a summer of massive spending for the Premier League runners-up.

So far, the north London club have spent £65m to secure the signature of Kai Havertz from cross-city rivals Chelsea and look to be very close to finalising a £105m deal for West Ham United captain Declan Rice.

The next player on Edu's list looks to be Ajax defender Timber, with the club edging closer to an agreement with the Dutch giants over an estimated fee of £40m.

The player is also said to be extremely keen on the move, and that desire to be a part of the project is an important factor for Arteta, per Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

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He explained the situation on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), saying:

"Talks are continuing between Arsenal and Ajax with regards to the defender Jurrien Timber. They're described as being at an advanced stage at the moment as well, the final valuation and structure still being discussed between the player and, of course, Arsenal.

"He wants the move which is key for Mikel Arteta, and once again Mikel Arteta getting his three key transfer targets very early in the window, so some significant business in that respect."

How Good is Jurrien Timber?

The 22-year-old has excelled for the Dutch giants since he debuted for the senior side in 2020, making 121 appearances, 15 of which were in the UEFA Champions League.

During his three full seasons for the Amsterdam club, he has never achieved a lower average rating for a season than 6.89 and even managed to hit a genuinely impressive rating of 7.40 in the 2021/22 season, per WhoScored.

Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.

One of the 5 foot 10 dynamo's best traits is his ability to play multiple roles across the backline. During his time with Ajax, he has been utilised as both a right-back and a centre-back, which could make him the dream player for a team like Arsenal.

Over the last year, Arteta has implemented a style that sees Ben White play as a right-back but then come back into the middle of the pitch when the team is in possession, playing as a de facto third centre-back.

Adding Timber would provide some much-needed competition in that role and allow either himself or White to fill in at centre-back if needed, potentially avoiding another William Saliba situation next year.

Soccer Football – Euro 2020 – Netherlands Training – KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands – June 20, 2021 Netherlands’ Jurrien Timber during training REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

If people needed any more convincing of the Utrecht-born gem's quality, just listen to Virgil Van Dijk, who said:

"I wasn't nearly as far along as he is now [at the same age], I have nothing but praise for him. He is a great player and a true professional. He has so much potential."

Should Edu and Co get this deal over the line, Arsenal could well be in for another year of challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Rangers Receive Big Transfer Update Involving £8k-p/w Striker

Rangers have had an offer for Feyenoord striker Danilo swiftly turned down by the Dutch club, however Michael Beale remains keen, according to a report from The Daily Record.

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

The Gers are in the latter stages of their negotiations for Brighton & Hove Albion's Abdallah Sima, with talks over a loan deal progressing well, although Alan Hutton believes Beale would much rather sign him on a permanent basis.

The former Rangers man does not expect the manager to bring too many players in on loan, and the manager has identified a number of other targets in attacking areas, who could be brought to Ibrox on a permanent basis.

Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers is still being monitored by the Light Blues, having seen their previous approaches turned down earlier in the window, and Danilo also remains a potential option.

However, The Daily Record report the Gers have had a low-ball offer for the Feyenoord striker immediately turned down, with the bid falling way short of the Dutch side's asking price.

The Eredivisie champions expect to receive more than £5m for the striker, with the two clubs currently "miles apart", however there are indications that Rangers could return to the negotiating table.

Despite the knock back, the 24-year-old remains high on Beale's list of potential attacking targets, but Dessers remains the priority for the time being.

Which striker are Rangers signing?

Dessers is Rangers' top target at present, and it is clear to see why, given the Nigerian's goal-scoring record over the past few years, most notably scoring ten goals for Feyenoord en-route to the Europa Conference League final in 2022.

However, Danilo has also impressed for the Dutch side, having been hailed as their "best finisher" by former manager Erik ten Hag, and he netted ten league goals last season, the second-highest amount in the squad.

Danilo for Feyenoord

The Sao Paolo-born forward's qualities do not stop there, averaging 0.2 assists per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile, when compared to his positional peers.

Having only recently turned 24, the £8k-per-week attacker is four years younger than Dessers, and he is already recording similar attacking numbers, with the latter netting nine goals during his last season in the Eredivisie.

At the moment, Rangers appear to be some way off Feyenoord's asking price, but if they are able to reach an agreement in the future, Danilo could be a solid addition to Beale's squad.

Chelsea Could Sign Silva’s Dream Partner In £50m "Animal"

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

Leeds: 49ers Could Sign ‘Insane Talent’ At Elland Road

Leeds United have had a tough few months with a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the club, however, things are starting to get back on track ahead of their Championship campaign.

The 49ers have completed their full takeover at Elland Road, buying out Andrea Radrizzani and are now working on finalising an appointment of a manager who can lead Leeds out of trouble and back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

Not only that, the American owners intend to reinvest in talent to refresh the squad during their next chapter and ambitious pursuit to establish the West Yorkshire club as a top-flight side that can comfortably compete without falling into the same patterns and repeating their mistakes again.

Indeed, without a manager it is difficult to recruit the right players without knowing the philosophy and style of play that will be implemented over the challenging 46-game campaign next season, however, it hasn't stopped them from being linked with potential targets upon the arrival of football advisor Nick Hammond last week.

One player who has been recently linked with a move to Leeds is West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby, a young and energetic player who could emulate Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road.

Would Molumby be a good fit for Leeds?

It is no secret that a number of players in the Leeds squad are reportedly set for an exit this summer after suffering relegation from the Premier League last month.

Both Tyler Adams and Marc Roca have been strongly linked with moves, whilst loanee Weston McKennie has gone back to Juventus after struggling to make a positive impact during his six-month stint with the Whites.

As a result, there is a real opportunity to strengthen and rebuild with vital financial backing from the owners and a sound recruitment strategy that can identify new additions to make a genuine impact next season and lead the club to better days.

Molumby has thrived under the management of former Leeds assistant coach Carlos Corberan whilst largely being deployed in the defensive midfield role, a position Phillips also thrived in when working with Corberan at Elland Road before getting a huge move to Manchester City last summer.

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One standout attribute that the Irishman shares with his treble-winning positional peer is a consistently outstanding pass completion rate, with Phillips tallying up a 92.3% accuracy last season despite limited game time, whilst Molumby came in strong with 86% which was, in fact, the best pass accuracy percentage in the entire West Brom squad of those who had more than one appearance last season, according to WhoScored.

Beyond his passing ability, the 23-year-old – hailed an "insane talent" by journalist Rudi Kinsella – has displayed a number of great attributes with four goals scored, four assists and four big chances created, proving he can be a real attacking threat for opponents from his deep-lying position.

He also averaged one shot on goal, 1.4 tackles and won 3.1 duels per game over 43 Championship appearances, demonstrating further that, like Phillips, he is a real workhorse with the ability to make an impact on both defensive and progressive play.

With that being said, it would be a big coup if Leeds could secure the services of Molumby this summer and if he could make the impact that Phillips had on Leeds in the Championship there is no reason why he couldn't become the second coming of their cult hero.

Chelsea Mulling Over Move For £65m-Rated Striker

Chelsea have placed Rasmus Hojlund on their list as a potential striker they could move for this summer, according to a report from Evening Standard.

Are Chelsea signing Rasmus Hojlund?

The 20-year-old currently plays his football in Italy for Atalanta and helped the side to a fifth place finish in Serie A this campaign thanks to his goals and assists. Having been played more times this year than ever before in his career – he featured in 32 league games for the side – he was able to produce his best ever goal haul of nine, and had two assists to boot.

In addition to that, when compared to some of the other strikers across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe, he emerged as a leading attacker despite his youth. Hojlund's non-penalty xG rate of 0.47 per 90 for example led to him being ranked in the top 16% in his position over the course of the year – an excellent feat considering his relative inexperience and age.

With eleven progressive passes received per 90 too, he actually ranks in the 99% percentile for that figure. It shows that not only is he adept at hitting the back of the net but is able to make clever runs, get into good positions and receive the ball in dangerous areas.

This has led to interest from Manchester United in the Premier League but it appears they could now have a rival in their race to sign the player. That's because according to a report from Evening Standard, the player is on Chelsea's radar as a striker they could sign should other deals not materialise. Boss Mauricio Pochettino is looking at potential forwards to sign and Hojlund's name has cropped up as an alternative to Nicolas Jackson, who is mentioned in the same report.

Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta

When does Rasmus Hojlund's contract expire?

With the player's deal only running out at Atalanta in 2027 – having only arrived in Serie A at the beginning of the campaign – they won't be too keen to let him go and could demand £65m for his signature according to this report.

However, his performances have clearly caught the eye of those at Stamford Bridge – and he's also impressed many in the game too – talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that the player is a "complete forward" and an "absolute monster". If the Blues desire a younger striker to lead the line for the club and to help Pochettino get the side back to winning ways, it appears as though that could be Hojlund.

Rangers Agree Deal To Sign £5k-p/w "Beating Heart" For Beale

Glasgow Rangers have agreed a deal to bring Jose Cifuentes to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

Is Jose Cifuentes leaving Los Angeles FC?

The Los Angeles FC midfielder has made 115 appearances for Steve Cherundolo’s side since joining back in 2020, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the calendar year, there’s a strong chance that he’s already looking to find his next destination.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano had name-checked the Light Blues as a potential suitor and claimed that conversations regarding a move were “going well”, and the journalist’s remark was soon backed up by a big development.

The Herald recently reported that the 24-year-old was poised to quit the Major League Soccer to fly over to Glasgow and complete a medical to finalise his move to Ibrox, a formality which sounds like it may have since been wrapped up if the following update is to be believed.

Are Rangers signing Cifuentes?

According to Football Insider, Rangers are “set to announce” the arrival of Cifuentes on a pre-contract agreement “soon”. The Ecuador international and the Teddy Bears have made a “breakthrough in talks” and the club are therefore “close” to publicly unveiling him as Michael Beale’s latest signing.

Ecuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes.

Cifuentes is naturally a central midfielder but is much stronger in the offensive aspect of his game, and having been dubbed the “beating heart” of a team by South American expert Tim Vickery, he would be a top-class recruit should he put pen to paper at Rangers.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £5k-per-week, ranks in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons by players in his position and has recorded a total of 49 shot-creating actions so far this season which is the second-highest in his squad, as per FBRef, with this desire to drive forward resulting in him having three assists to his name in 13 MLS appearances.

The Esmeraldas native, who’s sponsored by Nike, would also provide Beale with wonderful versatility having operated in seven different positions since first bursting onto the scene, including four in the midfield and even all across the frontline, so is a great option for the manager to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur.

Rangers have already completed the signings of Norwich City’s Kieran Dowell, Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling and Crystal Palace’s Jack Butland, and it would appear that Cifuentes is set to follow in their footsteps to become the fourth summer arrival walking through the doors at Ibrox.

Liverpool’s £14.5k-p/w Target’s Father Pushing Him To Join

Liverpool target and OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram is being pushed by his father to complete a move to Anfield, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

Is Khephren Thuram leaving Nice?

The France U21s international still has another two years remaining on his contract at the Allianz Riviera, but having impressed during his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season, has grabbed the attention of FSG and Jurgen Klopp.

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, correspondent Jonathan Johnson revealed that the 22-year-old is one of several central candidates being “looked at” as the boss aims to replace the departing James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Back in May, L’Equipe reported that the Reds have already held a positive meeting with the 6 foot 4 giant's representatives, and Football Transfers have since claimed that the two parties are now in “advanced” talks and Jurgen Klopp is a “huge fan” of his target.

Are Liverpool signing Thuram?

According to Talbot in his column for NUFC Blog, Thuram’s father and advisor, Lilian Thuram, is “pushing a move” to Liverpool ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are believed to be “progressing” towards completing a deal, and whilst there is other interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle United, it sounds as if it’s the former who are currently in pole position.

Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.

Liverpool are expected to complete the signing of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister before the end of the week, and Thuram, praised for being an "energetic" and "tenacious" player with "excellent technique" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, looks to be an excellent complement to the versatile Argentine.

The Reggio Emilia native, who currently pockets £14.5k-per-week, naturally sits just in front of the backline and is a protector of the defence, which is proven by him averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per league game last season, via WhoScored.

The Reds target, however, is also capable of contributing to efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having posted ten goal contributions (eight assists and two goals) across all competitions during the previous term, not to mention that he recorded a total of 84 shot-creating actions which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

Finally, like Mac Allister, Thuram would add wonderful versatility to the squad with his ability to operate in four various roles, including anywhere across the midfield, so the board should definitely consider tabling an offer to bring him to Anfield.

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