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      Aston Villa lead Ajani Burchall free transfer race with 16-year-old wonderkid snubbing new Bournemouth deal

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      ASTON VILLA have moved into pole position to snap up Bournemouth whizkid Ajani Burchall.The Bermudan winger, 16, is set to leave the Cherries in the summer after snubbing a scholarship deal.
      Ajani Burchall made his Championship debut in DecemberCredit: Getty
      Arsenal have shown interest, but it is Villa who now look most likely to sign the school boy.
      Burchall became Bournemouth’s third youngest ever player when making his debut as a late sub in December’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield.
      Then-Cherries boss Jason Tindall hailed the winger as one of many bright talents coming through the club academy.
      He said: “Ajani’s been one that has been performing consistently well for some time now.
      “He stepped up to play in [youth coach] Alan Connell’s side and has done very well when he’s stepped up.
      “And [the debut] was just a reward for his performances and also a reward for the academy, for the good work that they’ve been doing.
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      “To be able to see the amount of academy players we’ve had involved so far this season, I think it’s been excellent.”
      Villa have handed midfield prospect Jacob Ramsey a number of appearances this season and signed the teenager up to a new long-term deal in February.
      Earlier this season, fans got an unexpected look at their academy starlets as a coronavirus outbreak led to the club’s youth team facing Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.
      Louie Barry, signed from Barcelona in January 2020, got on the scoresheet in the 4-1 loss.
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      Jack Grealish looks on top form back in Aston Villa training More

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      Women’s Aid terminate Bristol City partnership after Danny Simpson transfer due to domestic abuse conviction

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      A WOMEN’S domestic abuse charity have ended their partnership with Bristol City after signing Danny Simpson.The 34-year-old former Manchester United and Leicester right-back has penned a short-term deal with the Robins until the summer after his arrival on a free transfer.
      Danny Simpson recently joined Bristol City on a free transfer until the summerCredit: Rex
      But the move has been met with plenty of opposition from supporters following the 2016 Premier League winner’s conviction six years ago for assaulting his then-partner.
      In December 2014 an eight minute phone call was made to 999.
      Manchester Magistrates Court heard that Simpson was found by a police officer on top of his partner at their Worsley home with his hands around her throat.
      He denied the charge but was found guilty of assault at Manchester Magistrates Court and served a period of 145 hours of community service.
      Simpson, who spent last season at Huddersfield Town, has now reunited with his ex-Foxes boss Nigel Pearson at Ashton Gate.
      However, Women’s Aid have decided not to use Bristol City in any of their campaign materials due to his previous conviction.
      That includes a photo of a pledge made in 2014 and removing details of the club from their website.
      A statement from the charity read: “While we understand that Simpson’s court case was in 2015 and his sentence for ‘throttling’ his girlfriend has been served, there is the significant issue that as an experienced and successful football player, he will be a role model for young fans and teammates.

      “There is no public message about rehabilitation or perpetrator programmes, or understanding that domestic abuse is rarely a one off event, but an ongoing pattern of control and fear.
      “Under a fifth of women experiencing abuse ever contact the police, and most domestic abuse will never be prosecuted.”
      It continued: “Following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, alongside many other women who have been killed, there is currently a national conversation on how we can reduce violence against women.
      “One of the main ways we can do this is by not ignoring or minimising violence against women where it happens.
      “On average, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every four days in the UK – it is vital we talk about it and take it seriously.”
      Danny Simpson in training to return to the field More

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      Man Utd were ‘extremely close’ to Ismaila Sarr transfer before £40m move collapsed in summer, confirms ex-Watford chief

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were ‘extremely close’ to signing Watford winger Ismaila Sarr last summer.The Red Devils had spent most of the window chasing Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
      Ismaila Sarr has scored nine times in the Championship this seasonCredit: Rex
      But when the German side stuck to their valuation of over £100million, United started chasing a back-up option.
      And former Watford technical director Filippo Giraldi has revealed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side came close to signing the Hornets’ £40m-rated star man.
      He told the Here We Go podcast: “We were extremely close, I was personally negotiating with them.
      “We weren’t able to reach an agreement. And I think Ismaila is very young, he will arrive for sure.
      “He missed probably an opportunity, but I think also for his football to stay here and get 10 goals and 10 assists, he’s deciding the league. I think for Watford in the condition they are at the moment it’s luck he stayed.
      “I love Ismaila because he has the ability to affect the game every time he plays, and that’s quite rare.
      “You see fast wingers becoming more and more important in physical leagues like the Premier League. I remember last year against Manchester United and Liverpool, he was the one with Gerard Deulofeu on the other side affecting the game and deciding the game every time.
      “This type of player are players you have to try to maximise and protect them as much as you can.”
      Sarr, 23, helped Watford to a famous victory over Liverpool last yearCredit: Getty
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      Having joined Watford for £31m from Rennes in 2019, Sarr impressed at times in the Premier League, scoring five goals and laying on six assists in 28 outings.
      Amid transfer speculation upon relegation, the 23-year-old sat out of Watford’s first two games of the Championship season.
      But he has only missed three games since, playing a major role in catapulting the Hornets to second in the table, as they aim for an instant return to the top flight.
      Sarr has taken to the Championship like a duck to water, scoring nine and assisting another nine in 33 appearances.

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      Watford’s Ismaila Sarr shows off his skills on the training pitch More

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      West Ham and Southampton keen on Arnaut Danjuma transfer with Bournemouth midfielder impressing in Championship

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      ARNAUT DANJUMA is being tracked by Southampton and West Ham.The winger, 24, joined Bournemouth for £13.7million two summers ago but endured an injury-hit campaign last term and could not save the South-Coast side from relegation.
      Arnaut Danjuma has scored ten goals this seasonCredit: Rex
      He has impressed this term in the Championship though, netting ten league goals.
      Saints comfortably saw off the Cherries in the FA Cup quarter-final at Dean Court last weekend but Danjuma’s display was one positive for the hosts.
      Now Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are weighing up a summer move – but could face competition from the Hammers who are also monitoring the attacker’s progress.
      Danjuma has two caps for Holland but Nigeria are trying to persuade him to switch allegiances to the Super Eagles.
      The Cherries livewire was born in Lagos to a Nigerian mother and Dutch father.
      He moved to Holland aged four and eventually joined PSV’s academy.
      The forward won his two caps for the Oranje in 2018 against Germany in the Nations League and a friendly versus Belgium in which he scored.
      Danjuma, 24, was a bright spark for Bournemouth in the recent FA Cup clash with SouthamptonCredit: Getty
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      A rule change was approved by Fifa in September meaning players can switch countries if they have played no more than three competitive games.
      This would allow Danjuma to play for the Super Eagles despite his Nations League appearance.
      Since joining Bournemouth, where he is primarily deployed on the left wing, Danjuma has scored ten goals and assisted five in a total of 42 appearances for the South Coast club.
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      Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and Bristol City in Jerry Yates transfer hunt after Blackpool striker’s impressive season

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      JERRY YATES is attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and Bristol City ahead of a summer swoop.The 24-year-old Blackpool striker has scored an impressive 16 goals for Neil Critchley’s side this season.
      Jerry Yates is wanted by a host of Championship clubs this summerCredit: Getty
      The Blackpool striker has scored 16 goals already this term for the TangerinesCredit: Getty
      And Yates’ form is being monitored by scouts from the trio of Championship clubs.
      The forward is valued at £2million by the Seasiders.
      And he ramped up interest in him again last night with another stunning display.
      Yates netted twice in the 3-1 home win over Peterborough.
      That result was enough to fire the Seasiders into the League One play-off places.
      Blackpool signed Yates from Rotherham on a three-year deal last summer.
      He moved to the Millers in his teens and enjoyed several stints out on loan.
      The hotshot spent time at Harrogate, Carlisle and Swindon but failed to make a real impact in Rotherham’s first team.
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      The Doncaster-born ace then opted for a fresh challenge last summer.
      And he has enjoyed a huge transformation since that switch.
      The ace is currently sixth in the race for the third tier’s golden boot.
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      EFL announce first EVER clear round of coronavirus testing out of 5,524 with just two in Prem for seventh week running

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      EFL chiefs have recorded their first Covid-free testing round.A total of 5,524 players and staff from across all 72 EFL clubs gave samples last week.
      There were zero Covid-19 cases in the Football League this weekCredit: PA
      None of those tests came back positive, in a landmark week for the EFL.
      League chief executive Trevor Birch said: “These results are a testament to the hard work and efforts of all EFL clubs during what has been a particularly challenging period.
      “For 12 months we, like the rest of the society, have been dictated to by this virus.
      “However, the stringent protocols implemented across the board have ensured that we are now able to turn our attention to returning to a certain level of normality.
      “Our focus must be on maintaining this low transmission rate and then ensure supporters can return in full as quickly as is safe to do so.
      “Football remains one of the most heavily regulated areas of crowd management, with EFL clubs already demonstrating they can stage matches safely during a successful pilot programme earlier in the season.”
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      Premier League clubs have recorded two positive samples in each of the last seven weeks, with the last clear round of top-flight testing coming in the final week of last season.
      Leeds’ Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich has tested positive for the virus and will miss his country’s three World Cup qualifiers including next week’s match with England at Wembley.
      A solitary positive was recorded from the first round of 1,576 tests between Monday and Thursday last week, with a another positive result from the second round of 1,196 tests between Thursday and Sunday.
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      Boris Johnson risks fresh vaccine row over UK’s ‘greedy’ jab firms More

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      From Deeney & Wilshere to £15m Assombalonga… here’s EVERY Championship star available on a FREE transfer this summer

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      EVERYONE loves a bargain – and even more managers than ever before will be looking for a snip this summer.Due to the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of clubs are looking to trim the wage bill while trying to avoid paying huge transfer fees.
      Britt Assombalonga cost Middlesbrough £15m but can leave for nothing in JuneCredit: PA
      Watford striker Troy Deeney will not be short of offers if he decides to leave WatfordCredit: Getty
      The Premier League big boys may still be able cough up the big bucks.
      However, lower down the ladder things are getting tight for a number of clubs.
      That will have many already scouring the market for reinforcements.
      And when it comes to the Championship, there are set to be over 100 stars available for absolutely NOTHING come the end of June.
      Some are untried and untested youngsters just waiting to be given an opportunity.
      Others have years of Premier League experience to fall back on, as well as plenty of international know-how having played numerous times for their respective nations.
      Watford captain Troy Deeney hit the net plenty of times in the top-flight, while Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic ticks both of the above boxes.
      Some even commanded huge transfer fees not too long ago, such as Britt Assombalonga.
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      Can you pick a better freebie XI from the list below?Credit: The Sun

      Middlesbrough gave a whopping £15m to Nottingham Forest for him back in 2017.
      Now the forward looks set to walk away from The Riverside for free at the end of the campaign.
      You can bet your bottom dollar that your club’s manager will already have had at least a sneaky glance at the list of soon-to-be free agents from the second tier.
      Now you can have a look for yourself at the whopping array of talent available in June from around the Championship.
      And let us know who you think are the best players that your club should be going all-out to snap-up in the comments section:
      Asmir Begovic is available for nothing in June when his Bournemouth deal expiresCredit: Rex
      GOALKEEPERS
      Orjan Nyland (aged 30, Norwich)
      Asmir Begovic (aged 33, Bournemouth)
      Rene Gilmartin (aged 33, Bristol City)
      Luke Southwood (aged 23, Reading)
      Curtis Anderson (aged 20, Wycombe)
      Lee Camp (aged 36, Coventry)
      Keiren Westwood (aged 36, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Michael McGovern (aged 36, Norwich)
      Jayson Leutwiler (aged 31, Huddersfield)
      David Stockdale (aged 35, Wycombe)
      Jordan Archer (aged 27, Middlesbrough)
      Luke Daniels (aged 33, Brentford) club option 1 year
      Rob Elliot (aged 34, Watford)
      Frank Fielding (aged 32, Millwall)
      Ryan Allsop (aged 28, Wycombe)
      Joe Lumley (aged 26, QPR)
      Emmanuel Idem (aged 22, Derby)
      Josh Vickers (aged 25, Rotherham)
      Joshua Render (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Cameron Yates (aged 22, Wycombe)
      Former Tottenham defender Kyle Naughton’s contract is up at Swansea in JuneCredit: Rex
      RIGHT-BACKS
      Joe Rankin-Costello (aged 21, Blackburn)
      Kyle Naughton (aged 32, Swansea)
      Andre Wisdom (aged 27, Derby)
      Ryan Nyambe (aged 23, Blackburn) Option for a further year
      Henrik Dalsgaard (aged 31, Brentford)
      Jack Hunt (aged 30, Bristol City)
      Demeaco Duhaney (aged 22, Huddersfield)
      Matthew Olosunde (aged 22, Rotherham)
      Kiko Femenia (aged 30, Watford)
      Billy Jones (aged 33, Rotherham)
      Adam Smith (aged 29, Bournemouth)
      Moses Odubajo (aged 27, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Kieron Freeman (aged 28, Swansea)
      Josh Dacres-Cogley (aged 24, Birmingham)
      Ciaran Brennan (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      James Clark (aged 19, Wycombe)
      LEFT-BACKS
      Greg Cunningham (aged 30, Preston)
      Omar Richards (aged 23, Reading)
      Steve Seddon (aged 23, Birmingham)
      Joe Bennett (aged 30, Cardiff)
      Achraf Lazaar (aged 29, Watford)
      Lee Wallace (aged 33, QPR)
      Matt Penney (aged 23, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Dan Potts (aged 26, Luton)
      Amari’i Bell (aged 26, Blackburn)
      Steve Cook’s time at Bournemouth may be coming to an endCredit: AP
      CENTRE-BACKS
      Sonny Bradley (aged 29, Luton)
      Joost van Aken (aged 26, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Osaze Urhoghide (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Richard Wood (aged 35, Rotherham)
      Darius Charles (aged 33, Wycombe)
      Tom Lees (aged 30, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Nathan Baker (aged 29, Bristol City)
      Christopher Schindler (aged 30, Huddersfield) club option 1 year
      Sol Bamba (aged 36, Cardiff)
      Curtis Davies (aged 35, Derby)
      Romoney Crichlow (aged 21, Huddersfield)
      Clark Robertson (aged 27, Rotherham)
      Christian Kabasele (aged 30, Watford)
      Tommy Elphick (aged 33, Huddersfield) club option 1 year
      Tom McIntyre (aged 22, Reading)
      Kyle McFadzean (aged 34, Coventry)
      Richard Stearman (aged 33, Huddersfield)
      Jake Hull (aged 19, Rotherham)
      Dominic Hyam (aged 25, Coventry) Option for a further year
      Richard Keogh (aged 34, Huddersfield)
      Steve Cook (aged 29, Bournemouth)
      Derrick Williams (aged 28, Blackburn)
      Adrian Mariappa (aged 34, Bristol City)
      Murray Wallace (aged 28, Millwall)
      Michael Morrison (aged 32, Reading)
      Matty Pearson (aged 27, Luton)
      Giles Phillips (aged 23, Wycombe)
      Jordon Thompson (aged 21, Coventry) club option 1 year
      Jack Wilshere’s short-term contract at Bournemouth expires at the end of the seasonCredit: Alamy
      DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
      Alex Vallejo (aged 29, Huddersfield) club option 1 year
      Shaun Williams (aged 34, Millwall)
      Joey Pelupessy (aged 27, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Geoff Cameron (aged 35, QPR)
      Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (aged 26, Luton) Option for a further year
      Alexander Tettey (aged 34, Norwich)
      Dejan Tetek (aged 18, Reading)
      Josh Eccles (aged 20, Coventry)
      Charlie Owens (aged 23, QPR) club option 1 year
      Jordan Cousins (aged 27, Stoke)
      Would you like your club to make a move and snap-up Henri Lansbury?Credit: Getty
      CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
      Henri Lansbury (aged 30, Bristol City)
      Mario Vrancic (aged 31, Norwich)
      Joe Rothwell (aged 26, Blackburn)
      Tom Carroll (aged 28, QPR) club option 1 year
      Billy Mitchell (aged 19, Millwall)
      Alex Hunt (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Curtis Thompson (aged 26, Wycombe)
      Alex Pattison (aged 23, Wycombe)
      Alex Mowatt (aged 26, Barnsley)
      Shaun MacDonald (aged 32, Rotherham)
      Paul Gallagher (aged 36, Preston)
      Jack Wilshere (aged 29, Bournemouth)
      Liam Kelly (aged 31, Coventry)
      George Moncur (aged 27, Luton)
      Juninho Bacuna (aged 23, Huddersfield) club option 1 year
      Corry Evans (aged 30, Blackburn)
      Liam Walsh (aged 23, Bristol City)
      Ryan Tunnicliffe (aged 28, Luton)
      Luke Berry (aged 28, Luton) Option for a further year
      Bradley Johnson (aged 33, Blackburn)
      Lewis Holtby (aged 30, Blackburn)
      Ben Thompson (aged 25, Millwall)
      Liam Waldock (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Ashley Fletcher is abnother player whose out of contract at Middlesbrough this summerCredit: Alamy
      ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
      Caolan Boyd-Munce (aged 21, Birmingham)
      Anis Mehmeti (aged 20, Wycombe) both parties 1 year
      Jamie Paterson (aged 29, Bristol City)
      Emiliano Marcondes (aged 25, Brentford)
      Alex Pritchard (aged 27, Huddersfield) club option 1 year
      Jon Toral (aged 26, Birmingham) Option for a further year
      Alen Halilovic (aged 24, Birmingham)
      WINGERS
      Marvin Johnson (aged 30, Middlesbrough)
      Stewart Downing (aged 36, Blackburn)
      Adam Reach (aged 28, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Jordan Shipley (aged 23, Coventry)
      Shane Ferguson (aged 29, Millwall)
      Tommy Rowe (aged 32, Bristol City)
      Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (aged 28, Middlesbrough)
      Junior Stanislas (aged 31, Bournemouth)
      Junior Hoilett (aged 30, Cardiff)
      Wayne Routledge (aged 36, Swansea)
      Billy Bodin (aged 28, Preston)
      Kazenga LuaLua (aged 30, Luton)
      Kadeem Harris (aged 27, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Elliott Bennett (aged 32, Blackburn)
      Ben Hughes (aged 20, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Hakeeb Adelakun (aged 24, Bristol City)
      Andreas Weimann (aged 29, Bristol City)
      Marley Watkins (aged 30, Bristol City)
      Isaac Mbenza (aged 24, Huddersfield)
      Jodi Jones (aged 23, Coventry)
      Andre Ayew has bagged plenty for promotion hopefuls Swansea City this termCredit: Getty
      FORWARDS
      Britt Assombalonga (aged 28, Middlesbrough)
      Sone Aluko (aged 32, Reading)
      Elias Kachunga (aged 28, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Yaya Sanogo (aged 28, Huddersfield)
      Adebayo Akinfenwa (aged 38, Wycombe)
      Amadou Bakayoko (aged 25, Coventry)
      Famara Diedhiou (aged 28, Bristol City)
      Ashley Fletcher (aged 25, Middlesbrough)
      Martyn Waghorn (aged 31, Derby)
      Danny Hylton (aged 32, Luton)
      Louis Moult (aged 28, Preston)
      Ched Evans (aged 32, Preston)
      Andre Ayew (aged 31, Swansea)
      Troy Deeney (aged 32, Watford)
      Matt Smith (aged 31, Millwall)
      Fraizer Campbell (aged 33, Huddersfield) Option for a further year
      Sam Baldock (aged 31, Reading)
      Jordan Rhodes (aged 31, Sheffield Wednesday)
      Maxime Biamou (aged 30, Coventry)
      James Collins (aged 30, Luton)
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      Jack Wilshere shows fans a glimpse of his intense 10 day training session More

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      Brazil icon Branco fights for life in intensive care after ex-Middlesbrough ace suffers ‘Covid-19 complications’ aged 56

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      BRAZIL World Cup winner Branco is fighting for his life in hospital after being admitted with ‘Covid complications’ last week.The 56-year-old former Middlesbrough star was placed on a ventilator in intensive care but is said to be ‘showing improvement’.
      Brazilian World Cup winner Branco is in intensive care battling CovidCredit: AFP
      Branco (left) won the 1994 World CupCredit: AFP
      Branco checked in to a Rio de Janiero medical centre at the start of last week.
      And after several worrying days he is now ‘reacting well to medication’, according to CNN.
      The latest report from CNN Brazil on Saturday said: “Doctors have begun the process of reducing sedation to remove mechanical ventilators.
      “They hope that in the next few hours he will be able to breathe without the aid of the device.”
      Branco played for several clubs in Brazil during his illustrious career – namely Fluminense, Gremio, Corinthians, Flamengo and Internacional.
      And he also had spells in Europe with Porto in Portugal and Genoa and Brescia in Italy.
      He won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil and didn’t head to Teesside until 1996.
      But he was well past his best and managed just nine games before his contract was paid up.
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      The 56-year-old played for Middlesbrough (pictured on the line) in the 90sCredit: PA:Press Association

      However, despite his struggles in the North East, upon leaving Branco said: “I am sad to leave Middlesbrough. I have enjoyed my time here.
      “I was able to give my friend Juninho the help and encouragement he needed.”
      Branco now works for the Brazilian Football Confederation.
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