The Sun Newspaper

BEN DAVIES may only have been bought by Liverpool at Asda price.
His shock switch from Preston cost £500,000 — although the deal has £1.1million in possible add–ons, which include him getting capped for England.

Davies, 25, has made 145 appearances for PrestonCredit: Rex Features

Davies grew up at Furness Rovers in Barrow

Yet up at Wilkie Road in Barrow they are used to seeing youngsters move on and play for their country.
Such as England’s Georgia Stanway, who once acted as a mascot in the Furness Rovers five–a-side team in which Davies starred.
Manchester City’s Stanway is a 19–cap midfield star for the Lionesses, having also made her way through the West Lancs League club — whose seniors pitch is owned by the supermarket giants.
Davies’ former manager at the tiny outfit believes the central defender now also has the platform to play on the biggest stage.

Graham Fraser, head of IT at Barrow Town Hall, coached Davies from the age of six until he moved to the Preston academy as an 11-year-old.
He proudly declared: “I remember at a presentation for Ben’s team I said I had him and another lad as brilliant left–sided centre-backs.
“That night I predicted that one or both of them would go on to play for England one day.
“And Ben’s in exactly the right place to do that.

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Davies, left, had a number of loan spells on his way to the topCredit: PA:Press Association

“His attitude was always first class, quite apart from his ability — and there’s another thing.
“Barrow’s a lovely place to grow up in but it’s a long drive off the M6 just to get here.
“If you want to make it as a footballer at a big club, you have to do the miles — and that’s what Ben and his parents Steve and Gill did when he went to Preston.”
Davies, 25, said: “For five years my mum and dad got me through to Preston for training and at times it didn’t look like it would be a success long term.
“But credit to everyone, we all stuck in there and didn’t give up.”

Georgia Stanway played for England at the Women’s World Cup 2019Credit: EPA

Sepp van den Berg is set to head to Preston as part of the dealCredit: Rex Features
Fraser always saw that determination to succeed — just as he did in Georgia — adding: “At Furness Rovers, the first thing was to give everybody a game. But then certain individuals stand out.
“Georgia played with the boys team and they hated it because she was a terrier, going around kicking half of them in training.
“Ben’s done us proud here, just like she has done.
“Fingers crossed now, that after making that speech a few years ago, I’m proved right and he becomes the second England player to come from here.”
Davies has had to bide his time to get a big break, going out on loan at York, Tranmere, Southport, Newport and Fleetwood.

At our level, he’s looked like a Rolls-Royce
Peter Ridsdale

And North End adviser Peter Ridsdale backs the belief that Davies has the class to become a big star.
The former Leeds chairman said: “At our level, he’s looked like a Rolls-Royce.
“From the young man’s point of view, he’s been outstanding for us and to have a chance to play for a club like Liverpool I think is brilliant.”
Dutch youngster Sepp van den Berg, 19, will head the other way to join Preston on loan, while the Championship club also negotiated a 20 per cent sell–on clause for Davies.
Furness chairman Steve Liddicott wishes his club had done the same.
He laughed: “My son Ross, who’s next door to our club at Barrow as goalkeeper coach, rang me when he heard about Ben’s move.
“He said, ‘Do we have a clause to get some money on him?’
“Ross was just joking, of course, but Ben always had that look of someone who’d make it to the top.
“And to think that one of our former lads will be playing in the Premier League is worth all the money in the world to a club like ours.”

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THE training-ground footage emerged a couple of weeks ago, via Tottenham’s in-house TV channel.
Jose Mourinho can be heard, off-camera, saying: “You want to stay here? Or go to Madrid and play no football?”

Gareth Bale is enduring a difficult season under Jose Mourinho after returning to TottenhamCredit: AFP

The Spurs boss was apparently telling his backroom staff what he had said in a meeting with Gareth Bale, 31, on loan from Real Madrid, but also playing remarkably little football under Mourinho.
Only a cynic would suggest Mourinho might have been pleased that this clip found the light of day.
Just as those same cynics might have wondered about Mourinho giving a training-ground rebuke to Paul Pogba in front of TV cameras when the pair were in the midst of one of their fall-outs at Manchester United — with the Frenchman having just been stripped of his status as vice-captain.
Then we had Mourinho branding Dele Alli as ‘lazy’ during Tottenham’s Amazon documentary — as well as footage of an argument with Danny Rose in the manager’s office — before Dele and Rose were both frozen out.

These things happen in football. And I am sure you can think of several instances of other elite managers criticising players on camera at their club’s training base.
Although, curiously enough, I cannot. But when Bale was handed his second Premier League start of the season — leading the line at Brighton on Sunday, in the absence of Harry Kane — he might not have felt inclined to run through Lewis Dunk-shaped brick walls for his manager.
After Spurs had been outplayed in a 1-0 defeat which gave the Seagulls their first home league win in 15 attempts, Mourinho claimed he went away with ‘positive feelings’ because of his team’s work-rate in the final 30 minutes.
Bale was substituted in the 61st minute. You do the arithmetic.

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The Welshman had looked way off the pace, under-motivated and, it was suggested on Sky’s commentary, eager to be substituted.
It all fitted the narrative, favoured in Madrid, of Bale as a busted flush, more interested in golf and coasting towards retirement.
Although Bale is regarded at Spurs, and within the Wales national squad, as a hugely popular team-mate and a good professional — it is not an opinion shared by Real manager Zinedine Zidane.
Bale is not the archetypal Mourinho favourite — not a football obsessive with a never-say-die attitude.
But he had enough talent and motivation to become one of the most decorated British footballers of all time, winning four Champions League titles.
There was always a belief that Mourinho was indifferent about taking Bale on loan — despite having tried to sign him while in charge at the Bernabeu.
And a feeling that these were two men of vast celebrity, whose best days were past.
It was difficult to imagine Mourinho as the man to cajole Bale, who had suffered plenty of injury issues in Madrid, back to world-class heights.

Mourinho heard giving Gareth Bale brutal warning in training about being sent back to Real Madrid to ‘play no football’
BENCH BECKONS
But you could still have imagined Bale, at least, as a very useful squad player for Spurs.
Not after Sunday’s fiasco, though. Now it would be a surprise if Bale starts another Premier League match under Mourinho.
The return of the prodigal son had lifted spirits at the Lane in September — even though Mourinho’s side tossed away a three-goal lead against West Ham after Bale arrived as a late sub for his second Spurs debut.
Now the idea that Bale might come to the fore later in the season seems to have been torpedoed and his remarkable career could be drifting towards a premature and unsatisfactory end.
Mourinho’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, was seriously annoyed when Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once referred to his Spurs side as ‘the Harry Kane team’.
Yet that term looks more appropriate now than it did under Pochettino.
When Kane was withdrawn at half-time, having suffered injuries to both ankles during Tottenham’s comprehensive 3-1 defeat by Liverpool last Thursday, you immediately feared for Spurs.
That was a truly horrible night for the club — Kane’s injury, a defensive shambles and a half-time tantrum from Serge Aurier, who joins Bale, Dele and Rose on a crowded Mourinho naughty step.

Bale’s return was a nostalgic feelgood story for Spurs fans — yet Mourinho was never likely to revel in sentimentality.
Dave Kidd

Two months ago, Spurs defeated Arsenal 2-0 to go top of the Premier League table, leaving their North London rivals in the bottom six.
Tonight, Arsenal can go above Tottenham with victory over Wolves — and even though the Gunners will have played two games more, that is some turnaround.
Earlier this season, Spurs looked impressive — if not thrilling — in a Mourinho blueprint.
Kane and Son Heung-min were dangerous on the counter-attack, in front of a muscular midfield and a well-drilled defence.
But having thrust themselves into a title race, Spurs were too one-dimensional to stay the course.
And they were never good enough to ostracise players as talented as Bale and Dele.
On Thursday, Chelsea arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, looking a more serious proposition under new boss Thomas Tuchel.
Mourinho has a decent recent record in ‘Big Six’ matches — having defeated both Manchester clubs as well as Arsenal.

And while his team are involved in three cup competitions, including a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in April, Mourinho will not be in peril.
But since that North London derby victory on December 6, Spurs have won just twice in nine Premier League matches.
Against Chelsea, Mourinho will surely start with his useful back-up striker Carlos Vinicius, rather than Bale.
And perhaps this all-time great British footballer will go back to Madrid and play no football until his contract expires in 2022.
But Bale’s uneasy relationship with Mourinho says as much about Tottenham’s manager as it does about the player.
Bale’s return was a nostalgic feelgood story for Spurs fans — yet Mourinho was never likely to revel in sentimentality.
As those watching Spurs TV might have accidentally overheard.
Tweet @davekidd_

Bale has certainly not hit the heights he managed during his first spell in North LondonCredit: AFP

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PHIL JONES has had the door opened to restart his Manchester United career after a ‘disheartening’ year.
Jones’ last appearance came just over 12 months ago and he was not even registered on the squad list at the start of this season.

Phil Jones has been handed a Man United lifelineCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Now, after a long road back from knee surgery, he has been made eligible to play again by manager Ole Solskjaer, whose latter years of his own career were blighted by injury.
United boss Solskjaer said: “It’s disheartening. It’s the worst thing for a football player.
“When you have injuries that take your passion away and take your chance to play football away.
“Phil has been a top centre-back and was in the World Cup squad two years back.

“He was brilliant when I came in so I wish him back into the squad as quick as I can.
“I have been through bad injuries and it might take your belief away and your enjoyment away.
“He has been working so hard to get back. He’s had a couple of setbacks, but hopefully we can get some news.
“He will be included on the list and hopefully he’ll get his fitness back sooner rather than later and be available to play.”

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Centre-back Jones is still only 28 and has made 224 appearances for United as well as earning 27 England caps.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said Jones would go on to be the best player ever at Manchester United.
Speaking in 2013 Ferguson said: “Jones, arguably the way he is looking, could be our best ever player.
“I think Jones may be one of the best players we have ever had, not matter where we play him. At 21 years of age, he is going to be a phenomenal player. I think he can play anywhere on the pitch.
“He has such a massive influence, with his instinct and reading of the game. He has a drive about him.”
Jones has won one Premier League, an FA Cup and the Europa League.
His last game was on January 26, 2020 when he scored in a 6-0 FA Cup win over Tranmere.
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GARETH BALE’S hopes of a permanent Tottenham deal took another major hit.
The Wales forward, who started in place of the injured Harry Kane, was off the pace and taken off just after the hour mark in the loss at Brighton.

Gareth Bale’s hopes of a permanent Spurs deal have taken another blowCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail

Bale lasted just one hour before being taken off in the 1-0 defeat to BrightonCredit: Reuters

Bale has made just two Premier League starts since his season-long loan from Real Madrid.
And time is running out for the 31-year-old to convince boss Mourinho to extend his Spurs stay.
Mourinho said: “I would say that we tried to start with the team who tried to give Son the same dynamic that we are used to give him. But there is no replacement for Harry. 
“We tried with Bale coming into these positions to try to connect with Son and we were not successful. 

“I’m not speaking about Bale, I’m speaking about us.”
After Spurs’ 3-1 defeat by Liverpool, Mourinho’s nightmare week continued as Brighton claimed their first Premier League home scalp.
Tottenham’s top-four ambitions took a massive dent as they were beaten by Leandro Trossard’s 17-minute strike.
Mourinho, whose side lie sixth in the table, added: “We didn’t start well. They could have scored immediately when they hit the post.

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“In the first half I felt the team was probably too sad with the goal conceded and the situation.
“There was a lack of energy. In the last 25-30 minutes they gave everything but  with limitations.
“We couldn’t score but at the same time gave them the chance to counter-attack.
“The boys showed great spirit in the second half and the boys showed they are suffering and they tried to fight against that sadness.
“They tried, so I have nothing negative to say about them. I leave the game with a good feeling about my boys because they tried hard in the  second half.”
The future of Tottenham defender Serge Aurier – who left the ground at half-time during the defeat by Liverpool, is in doubt after the Ivorian was not included in the matchday squad.

But Brighton recorded their first league win at the Amex since beating Arsenal SEVEN MONTHS ago making them the last team in the top division to notch a home league win this season.
The Seagulls are seven points from the relegation zone and scorer Trossard said: “This is a great result, it’s a sweet one.
“We have waited a long time but we deserved this, we were the better team.
“It’s a confidence booster — it has been a long time coming.”
Brighton boss Graham Potter added: “Fantastic — there is no other word for it.
“From the start we were brave, aggressive, had personality on the pitch, and scored a nice goal.”

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MANCHESTER UNITED pledged their support for Marcus Rashford — labelling the racist abuse he has received as ‘vile and unacceptable’.
Rashford, along with team-mates Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe, have all been abused online within the last week. 

Man Utd have pledged support for Marcus Rashford after he received racist abuseCredit: EPA

Rashford took to Twitter to reveal his abuse following Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal, tweeting: “Humanity and social media at its worst.” 
Greater Manchester Police are currently investigating.  
United yesterday released a statement reading: “Manchester United has re-emphasised the message that racial abuse is vile and unacceptable.
“More needs to be done to identify the perpetrators, as footballers continue to be on the receiving end via social media.”

Director of communications Charlie Brooks added: “When it comes to the abuse the players are suffering at the moment, it’s not just an issue for our club or for football in general, it’s society’s problem.
“Football becomes a lightning rod for it and these people won’t win.
“The players won’t let it affect them but nobody should have to put up with the level of abuse that players across the board are getting at the moment. 
‘The reality is if they are not able to be identified on social media, it’s very hard to trace them.

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“The onus has to be on the social media companies to do something about that. We need to see verifiable, identifiable accounts.”
The latest incidents have heaped scrutiny on social media platforms, while the Government are planning new laws on online abuse.
And incoming Premier League head of equality, diversity and inclusion Iffy Onuora believes arrests will be a deterrent. 
The ex-Gillingham and Huddersfield striker said: “Social media companies have been far too slow to take down harmful material.”
Martial and Tuanzebe received death threats and racial abuse following Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Sheffield United.

Skipper Harry Maguire then tweeted: “United against racism. We will not tolerate it.”
While ex-Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand added: “These ignorant idiots need to be exposed so everyone can see them for what they are.”
West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers was also a recent victim, with a 49-year-old man arrested on suspicion of racial abuse.
Onuora added: “That’s the way it’s got to go. For too long people have thought there are no consequences to this. That’s the culture that’s got to change.
“I’ll be more confident when people understand the repercussions. If lives are turned upside down, if that’s what it’s got to be, I will feel more reassured.
“When that comes together with social media companies taking stronger action, I’ll be a lot happier.”

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