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      Man Utd face worst-case scenario with Mason Greenwood set to stay when deadline passes today & no Saudi clubs interested

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      MANCHESTER United are facing a worst-case scenario if the transfer window deadline passes without a spot for Mason Greenwood.The Old Trafford club cut ties with the 21-year-old striker last week after being suspended following his arrest in January last year.
      Greenwood playing for United in February 2021Credit: Reuters
      Greenwood’s last hope of a return to football remains abroadCredit: Reuters
      Greenwood had reportedly been set to be welcomed back into the fold before SunSport exclusively reported United had made a U-turn due to the volatile reaction.
      Other English clubs are said to similarly fear a public backlash if they were to provide Greenwood with a return to the pitch.
      The transfer window deadline will pass for English clubs at 11pm tonight, with initial inquiries from domestic teams not followed up.
      Failure to offload the £75,000-a-week Greenwood will leave United facing a bill of up to £8million.
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      This is because he still has two years left to run on his contract, with the club having the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
      Instead, the striker has been left with no alternative but to move to an overseas club.
      And if United cannot also mutually agree on cancelling Greenwood’s deal, his options are slim.
      This is because most of Europe’s top leagues also shut their transfer windows on Friday.
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      The Scottish deadline passes at midnight, while it is 4pm in Germany and 6pm in Italy.
      Clubs in Spain and France will no longer be able to sign players from 11pm and 10pm respectively.
      It was reported this morning that Greenwood had been thrown a last-ditch lifeline by top European club Lazio – but the Italian deadline passed at 7pm.
      There have also been no inquiries from Saudi Arabia, where teams have already hoovered up Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema this season.
      The deadline in Saudi Arabia passes on September 7.
      One of his last remaining hopes would lie with Besiktas, who are understood to be one of two Turkish clubs interested in opening the door for his return.
      There is no rush to get a deal done by the time the UK transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday because the Turkish deadline is not until September 15.
      Fans in football-mad Turkey are unlikely to be put off by the allegations made against Greenwood if he recreates his United form on the pitch, according to Besiktas supporter Orunc Kamiloglu.
      The fan added: “He hasn’t been convicted of any crime so why should it make a difference.
      “If he plays well in the black and white jersey, the fans will love him and take him to their hearts.”
      Greenwood “mutually agreed” to leave United on August 21 following backlash over his potential return to the squad after his arrest for attempted rape and sexual assault.
      He was charged in October last year but all charges were dropped in February by the Crown Prosecution Service.
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      In a statement United said they “recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career” at the club.
      They said his exit was the “most appropriate” result from the saga, adding: “We will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”
      Greenwood pictured leaving Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on November 21 last yearCredit: Getty More

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      Dramatic moment Aston Villa team bus is BRICKED as police release CCTV footage of attack

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      THIS is the dramatic moment Aston Villa’s team bus was BRICKED after their win over Burnley. Villa ran out 3-1 winners at Turf Moor to rise to seventh in the Premier League table.
      CCTV footage captured the moment Aston Villa’s team bus was bricked
      But their journey back home was dangerously interrupted when a brick was launched towards their team bus.
      Police have now released the CCTV footage in a bid to catch the yobs responsible.
      Supt Melita Worswick, of Lancashire Police, said: “This incident could have been so much worse and it is nothing but good luck that nobody was injured.
      “The coach driver could have been injured by the broken glass, causing him to swerve into another vehicle, or another vehicle could have been hit by the brick.
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      “There could have been serious injuries or even fatalities. For this reason we are taking this incident extremely seriously.
      “We have now released CCTV footage from the coach and are asking anybody who recognises the two men on the left to get in touch.
      “We appreciate the footage of them is quite grainy, but one is wearing distinctive clothing and this may help somebody recognise them.
      “The area was busy when incident occurred, with bank holiday traffic and people leaving the area following the football match between Burnley and Aston Villa, and we believe there will be people out there who have not yet spoken to us, who either saw who was responsible or has dashcam showing the men more clearly.
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      “Whatever information you have please get in touch.”
      The brick caused damage to the coach as it struck the windscreen but nobody was injured as a result of the brazen attack.
      Anybody with information can contact us on 101, quoting log 480 of August 27th.
      A man was arrested in relation to the incident but has since been released no further action, having been found not to have been involved. More

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      Football thug jailed after smashing former Premier League star in face with METAL BUCKET in shocking pitch invasion

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      A FOOTBALL thug has been jailed for hitting Middlesbrough keeper Tom Glover in the face with a METAL BUCKET.The incident left former Tottenham youngster Glover concussed with blood streaming down his face – and needing ten stitches.
      A man has been jailed for hitting former Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover in the face with a metal bucketCredit: Getty
      The incident occurred in December during Melbourne City’s clash with Melbourne VictoryCredit: Getty
      It happened last December, when the Australian keeper was playing for Melbourne City in a local derby against Melbourne Victory.
      Glover, who joined Championship strugglers Boro earlier this summer, still bears a scar from the assault.
      Melbourne magistrates court sentenced Victory fan Alex Agelopoulos to three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
      The trial heard he attacked Glover, 25, with the sand-filled bucket during a pitch invasion.
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      The footy thug launched a metal bucker at Glover following a pitch invasion
      Glover was visibly hurt after the collisionCredit: Getty
      Players and staff were on hand to help escort the shot-stopper away from the situationCredit: Getty
      Magistrate Rosemary Falla told Agelopoulos, 23: “You and your cohort have stained the very fabric of football in Australia.
      “This will forever be remembered for the harm that was caused.
      “Tom Glover is now wary every time he steps onto the pitch.”
      Agelopoulos, nicknamed Bucket Man by Aussie media, was freed on bail after an appeal but will go on trial once more in December.
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      Glover spent five seasons on Spurs’ books before returning home to join Melbourne City in 2019.
      He made 106 appearances for the Aussie outfit before signing for Middlesbrough on a free transfer this July. More

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      Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles is punched and pelted with bottles in shocking brawl as thugs ‘threaten to shoot him’

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      NEWCASTLE captain Jamaal Lascelles was punched and pelted with bottles in a shocking street brawl – after thugs “threatened to shoot” him.It is claimed the gang of men also injured his brother and left their pal “unconscious” as they left Chinawhite club in Newcastle.
      One of Lascelles’s group was on the ground and got kicked in the face which knocked him ‘out cold’, an eyewitness saidCredit: The Sun
      Lascelles – wearing a green gilet – is said to have suffered damage to his ear in the scuffleCredit: The Sun
      The Newcastle captain appears to throw a punch in the bust up on August 19Credit: The Sun
      Onlookers say all hell broke loose when a man elbowed Lascelles’s 19-year-old brother in the throat.
      The “unprovoked attack” saw Lascelles, 29, shove the man away before a fight erupted, just hours after he was an unused sub in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at The Etihad.

      Did YOU see what happened? Get in touch: tom.hussey@thesun.co.uk

      Shocking footage shows a “vodka bottle” hurled at the skipper’s head before missing and smashing in the street.
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      A group of six to eight men then reportedly attacked the centre-back before he was “punched from all angles”, MailOnline reports.
      One of the footballer’s group had to be “resuscitated” after being left “unconscious for ten minutes”, a witness claimed.
      Lascelles – wearing a green gilet – is said to have suffered damage to his ear in the scuffle but threw a punch himself.
      A source told The Times: “There was blood coming out of his brother’s mouth.
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      “One of Lascelles’ group was on the ground and then got kicked in the face and was knocked out cold… for more than ten minutes.
      “He was being resuscitated when the police arrived.”
      Officers from Northumbria Police charged to the scene on Falconar’s Court following the August 19 brawl.
      No arrests have been made.
      The fight came as the Magpies were given two days off by Eddie Howe following the City game.
      The centre-back joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in 2014, he has been linked with a move to Turkish side Beşiktaş.
      The Sun has approached Northumbria Police and Newcastle United for comment.
      Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles was beaten up in a mass brawl on a night out – after thugs ‘threatened to shoot’ himCredit: Rex
      Just hours before the bust up, Lascelles was an unused sub in his team’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on August 19Credit: Getty More

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      Premier League stars’ luxury cars including Ferrari found in shipping containers on the way to Dubai after being stolen

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      TWO Premier League stars have had their flash luxury cars returned to them after the vehicles were found in shipping containers headed for Dubai.The supercars recovered by the Essex Police’s Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit were a Ferrari and a Range Rover.
      The Premier League player has been reunited with his flash red FerrariCredit: East Anglia News Service
      The silver Range Rover has also been reunited with its ownerCredit: East Anglia News Service
      So far this year, the force’s team has recovered 517 cars or parts of vehicles with a combined value of more than £16million.
      The two players, who have not been identified but have more than 100 international caps between them, had their cars stolen in neighbouring counties.
      The SVIU’s PC Paul Gerrish, PC Phil Pentelow and analyst Hannah Gerrish, tracked down the vehicles to shipping containers which were due to travel to Dubai from London Gateway Port in Thurrock.
      As yet, no arrests have been made in connection to the vehicle thefts.
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      It’s thought once a car is stolen, thieves may look to quickly sell it on, even for a price well below its market value, or strip it for parts or even ship the whole vehicle  to areas such as the Middle East or Africa, where it can be sold for two or three times its cost in the UK.
      The thieves or handlers of the stolen vehicles may obtain false or cloned identities before selling it on to an unsuspecting member of the public in the UK or even distribute them to other criminals.
      Essex Police launched Operation Ignition this summer which saw the SVIU, Roads Policing and investigators work together to break up the criminal gangs behind the thefts.
      The SVIU has managed to return vehicles to hundreds of victims from family saloons to supercars.
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      PC Gerrish said: “Every stolen car is important to us and we work as hard as we can to get them back to their owners.
      “When you phone someone up and tell them we’ve got their car with their kids’ car seats and the pushchair in the back, or other personal items, it’s hugely satisfying.
      “We are creating a hostile environment for car thieves. We know what to look for and we know how and where they operate.”
      One of the Premier League footballers went to the SVIU base to be reunited with his car and praised the team’s work.
      PC Pentelow said: “He was genuinely thankful and taken aback by the lengths we had gone to.
      “His car was clearly very dear to him, and he was very impressed with the service he’d had from the police.
      “Even though he plays for one of my team’s biggest rivals, he was a nice guy and down-to-earth. It was good to help him.”
      The SVIU team work with manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to improve vehicle security.
      The team recommends drivers learn about their car’s vulnerabilities by watching videos online and check the website Secured by Design to find recommended safety devices for your car and think about getting a Disklok.
      However, they say the biggest vulnerability is people leaving their vehicles unlocked.
      PC Pentelow said: “Double lock it and check it. We still see CCTV where people’s cars aren’t locked.”
      In July this year, the Essex Police’s SVIU team recovered cars and car parts worth £1m, in one of their most successful weeks ever.
      The unit recovered high-end cars including a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley Bentayga, alongside several Range Rovers and BMWs.
      Read More on The Sun
      In recent months they have located and recovered a range of Ferraris and Aston Martins.
      A Rolls-Royce Cullinan recovered during recent operations was worth more than £360,000 alone.
      PC Phil Pentelow and PC Paul Gerrish say they are creating a hostile environment for car thievesCredit: East Anglia News Service More

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      Ex-Premier League prodigy Causso Darame, 24, dealt drugs as he was ‘too proud’ to claim benefits when club dropped him

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      AN EX-FOOTBALL professional dealt drugs because he was “too proud” to claim state benefits after being dropped by his club.Causso Darame, 24, dreamed of the big time after moving from Portugal to be signed by club Swansea City in the Premier League at the age of just 16.
      Ex-Swansea City star Causso Darame dealt drugs as he was ‘too proud’ to claim benefitsCredit: WNS
      The speedy winger compared himself to superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and NeymarCredit: Getty
      The speedy winger compared himself to superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar – but failed to make it.
      A court heard he then turned to drug-dealing to make money because he refused to accept unemployment benefits.
      He was chased by police and discovered hiding underneath a car with £1,000 worth of heroin and cocaine.
      Recorder Paul Lewis KC said: “You told the probation officer you were living off the proceeds of crime because you were too proud to claim benefits.”
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      Prosecutor Steven Donoghue said further drugs were found at his home with a street value between £740 and £1,000.
      Defence barrister Martha Smith-Higgins said her client was signed to Swansea City FC as a teenager after being provided with a scholarship and sponsorship.
      When he was in the Swansea City set-up he told their website: “I try to play like Ronaldo or Neymar – they are the players I have grown-up watching.
      “Ronaldo is my hero though. His hard-work ethic is a great example for young players like me – I would like to be like him.
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      “I always try to be skilful and fast to cause as much trouble as possible on the wing.”
      But at the age of 19, he was released from his contract and was unable to find another club.
      Cardiff Crown court heard Darame’s life began to “spiral out of control” and he turned to using drugs.
      He ended up racking up a debt and began dealing drugs in order to pay off that debt.
      Since his remand in custody, the defendant has joined the prison football team – and wants to restart his career.
      Darame, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
      He was sentenced to a total of 28 months imprisonment. More

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      Premier League star Raul Jimenez’s home broken into while his family were inside with £130k Audi & Range Rover stolen

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      A PREMIER LEAGUE star’s home was broken into while his family were inside with his Audi Q8 and Range Rover stolen.”Professional criminal” Patrick Rafferty and his fellow thieves sneaked into Raul Jimenez’s Tettenhall home while he was there with his young children.
      Thieves sneaked into Raul Jimenez’s Tettenhall home while he was there with his familyCredit: Instagram
      The ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers star was targeted as part of a two-month crime spreeCredit: Getty
      The 35-year-old targeted Wolverhampton Wanderers all-time top Premier League goal scorer as part of his two-month crime spree which saw him swipe cars worth a total of almost £250,000.
      Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Rafferty was part of a gang of crooks who often disguised themselves before creeping into homes during the early hours of the morning.
      Victims were often asleep when the thieves entered their Wolverhampton and Willenhall homes in order to pinch keys and flee with cars parked on driveways.
      The gang forced entry into the Mexican striker’s home in July last year, stealing two of his cars which were worth a total of £130,000.
      Read more Sport News
      Other items snatched from the 32-year-old’s home included PlayStation controllers, watches and computers, prosecutor Jonathan Barker said.
      It comes after Jimenez penned a two-year deal with Fulham in July after falling out of favour at Wolves.
      During their crimewave, dad-of-one Rafferty and others entered a property in Tettenhall Wood.
      A Mini Countryman worth £5,800 was stolen while a family with children slept.
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      The victims noticed the cars had been taken when they woke up later that morning.
      Two days later, burglars broke a lock and forced their way into a home in Tettenhall.
      A dad who had been asleep was suddenly woken up by a noise before realising the keys to his Porsche and Mercedes were being taken.
      He courageously attempted to disturb the thieves, which caused a criminal attempting to flee in the Mercedes to lose control and hurtle into a neighbour’s house.
      The thieves then fled the scene on foot. A total of £5,500-worth of damage was caused to the neighbour’s home.
      Gang members targeted a further property that same day while a family with children were inside their home in Willenhall.
      A lock was broken before the thieves snatched keys to a Ford Fiesta worth £4,000 and an £18,000 Seat Leon.
      The next day, the gang broke a lock to get inside a home in Oxley but left empty-handed when they were disturbed.
      A victim living at a property in Wednesfield was woken up when his Ring doorbell made a noise that same day.
      The gang forced entry into Jimenez’ home in July last yearCredit: Instagram
      They stole two of his cars which were worth a total of £130,000Credit: Rex
      He confronted the masked burglars and shouted at them before they said they wanted his car and walked off with nothing.
      Thieves went on to burgle a home in Tettenhall after breaking a lock on a door.
      A family with children were inside when a BMW X3, Peugeot 208 and a Citreon DS3 were swiped from their home.
      Apple AirPods also taken were traced by police, linking accomplice Simon Brookes to the burglary.
      The burglars then forced their way through a dining room window to get into another home, where two Mercedes worth a total of £23,000 were stolen.
      An attempted burglary took place in Willenhall but masked men ran off after the female victim shouted at them.
      A Toyota Avensis worth £1,500 was also taken from a property in Bilston.
      The court heard how Rafferty – of no fixed abode – has 23 convictions for 58 offences including other burglaries and conspiracy to steal.
      Rafferty and Brookes admitted conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal between July 18 and September 16 last year.
      Third-strike burglar Rafferty confirmed he was involved in all 10 incidents.
      Amrisha Parathalingam, defending Rafferty, said he was using drugs at the time of his offending.
      Brookes, 31, pleaded on a basis and claimed he was only involved in the burglary in Tettenhall.
      Simon Worlock, defending Brookes, said the dad-of-four – of Wolverhampton – was just the driver of one of the cars which was stolen and is “not proud of what he has done”.
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      Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC said: “You were both part of a criminal gang which was focused on stealing valuable cars by identifying them on driveways and entering the dwelling house in the early hours of the morning, drilling out the locks, wearing disguises.”
      Rafferty was jailed for 84 months, while Brookes was locked up for 54 months on August 21.
      Other items snatched from the 32-year-old’s home included PlayStation controllersCredit: Instagram More

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      Gary Lineker breaks his silence on Mason Greenwood after striker was AXED from Man Utd – as club faces losing MILLIONS

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      GARY Lineker has broken his silence on Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood decision, welcoming the end to an “untenable” situation.The Match Of The Day presenter and ex-Three Lions captain spoke out, as it emerged United face losing millions letting Greenwood go.
      Gary Lineker says the Greenwood decision was ‘inevitable and right’Credit: Getty
      Greenwood’s Old Trafford departure could cost Manchester United millionsCredit: Getty
      Former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona star Lineker took to X, formerly called Twitter, to offer his thoughts on the Premier League club’s announcement Greenwood would be leaving.
      The BBC host shared the club’s statement and added: “Inevitable and right decision on an untenable situation.”
      United today announced they had come to a “collaborative decision” with the 21-year-old forward that he would be moving on.
      But the club did not say whether his £75,000-a-week contract would be terminated or whether he would be put on loan or sold.
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      The Red Devils now face a scramble to get rid of Greenwood in just ten days or face losing millions.
      If United haven’t sold or loaned him out by September 1 when football’s summer transfer window closes, they could have to pay him millions to cancel his contract which is due to expire in 2025.
      They could only go beyond the deadline if Greenwood is picked up by a club in Saudi Arabia because their window closes on September 20.
      Recent expensive new recruits to the Saudi league include former United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as France’s Karim Benzema after leaving Real Madrid and PSG’s Brazilian forward Neymar.
      Most read in Football
      Greenwood hasn’t played for the first team since being arrested in January last year on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
      All charges against him were dropped in February but the footballer remained suspended by United.
      Members of Manchester United Women’s team reportedly raised concerns about Greenwood returning to the training ground.
      Women’s charities have welcomed today’s decision and told of “relief” but say more must be done by football clubs.
      The move was also tonight praised by Channel 4’s Countdown co-host and Strictly Come Dancing star Rachel Riley, who said last week she would stop supporting United if they allowed Greenwood back.
      Posting on social media, she praised a Women’s Aid tweet as a “great statement” after the United announcement.
      The charity had posted: “We know that the news from @ManUtd this afternoon, that Mason Greenwood will be moving on from the club, will be a relief.
      “This case has brought back painful memories for many people.”
      Greenwood’s last game was on January 22, 2022, in a Premier League clash against West Ham United, which United won 1-0.
      He was charged in October last year and was due to stand trial in November this year.
      But prosecutors withdrew the case on February 2 after his alleged victim and a dozen more witnesses refused to co-operate.
      United said today they had taken into account the “wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible”.
      The club added: “Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material alleged did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged
      “That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
      “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.”
      Greenwood also released a statement where he insisted he had not done what he was accused of but was “learning to understand my responsibilities as a professional footballer”.
      He added: “I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me and I know people will think the worst.
      “I was brought up to know that violence or abuse is wrong.
      “I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.
      “However, I fully accept I made mistakes.”
      He added: “I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Bradford-born Greenwood has scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United, having joined the club as a six-year-old.
      He was given his England debut by manager Gareth Southgate as a late substitute against Iceland in September 2020, though has not played for the country since.
      Protests have been staged about United’s approach ahead of the Greenwood decisionCredit: Getty More