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      in Soccer

      West Ham aim to reunite Callum Wilson with ex-Bournemouth pal Ryan Fraser in double transfer

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      WEST HAM want to reunite old Bournemouth pals Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser.
      The Hammers are leading the chase to sign Cherries striker Wilson in an £18million swoop.

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      West Ham are plotting a double swoop for Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson
      And Irons boss David Moyes wants to hijack winger Fraser’s free transfer to Crystal Palace.

      The Eagles offered Fraser, 26, a £50,000-a-week deal but West Ham are set to match that amount.
      Wilson, 28, is certain to leave the relegated Cherries, and he has no shortage of admirers.
      Tottenham, Fulham and Newcastle have all been linked with a move for the striker.

      But sources close to the player say he is leaning towards a switch to the Hammers – against whom he scored seven of his 41 Prem goals for Bournemouth during their five seasons in the top-flight.
      He managed only eight league goals in total last term as he failed to save the Dorset side from the drop.

      However that has not put off the Hammers and others from trying to sign him.
      In another blow to Bournemouth, promoted Leeds want to re-sign midfielder Lewis Cook.

      It is understood that the Whites will test the Championship side’s resolve with a £15m bid.

      Declan Rice emotional about West Ham fans after winning Hammer Of The Year for 2019-2020 season More

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      in Soccer

      Harry Maguire and pals racked up huge £63k bill in five hours on three-day Mykonos binge before brawl arrest

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      BOOZY Harry Maguire’s night of shame followed a three-day binge in Mykonos.
      The Manchester United captain flew to the Greek party island with fiancée Fern Hawkins after playing in his side’s Europa League defeat to Sevilla.

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      Harry Maguire’s Mykonos brawl came after a three-day bender on the islandCredit: EPA

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      Footage obtained by The Sun on Sunday shows three men jeering and gesticulating towards Maguire
      Along with several pals and his brothers, he hit bars and clubs on the hotspot, which has become this summer’s go-to destination for Premier League stars.
      But he also attracted attention from rival fans, who hurled sick insults at him before Thursday night’s fateful brawl.
      On Tuesday it is claimed the England centre-back, 27, and others racked up a £63,000 bar tab in a five-hour session.
      The group, including footballer Ross Barkley, 26, downed expensive booze and scoffed lobster.

      They were also joined by Love Island’s star Chris Hughes, 27, snooker ace Judd Trump, 31, and Harry’s brother Joe, who plays for Accrington Stanley.

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      Maguire looked frustrated as he was taunted by a group of rival supporters

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      Witnesses claim the men teased Maguire on Wednesday night at the Cosi Bar before the fracas on Thursday
      Maguire and his entourage sank bottles of vintage champagne, ­firework-decorated cocktails and spirits at the exclusive SantAnna beach bar.
      Their huge spending included an £18,000 bottle of Dom Perignon Brut 2002 bubbly.
      They also splashed out on a £17,000 bottle of Armand de ­Brignac Champagne, plus £750 on three bottles of Jack Daniel’s.

      The stars lined their stomachs with £1,200 of lobster, seven ­ribeye steaks costing £820 as well as Greek meze platters and Wagyu beef rolls.
      Maguire paid a fraction of the total bill and mainly drinks beer.
      The players got boozed up in the VIP area while dancing by private sunbeds, which cost more than £2,000 to hire out.
      The following evening, things took a nastier turn when Maguire and his party went to the Cosi Bar in Mykonos.

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      Maguire appears to move away as the group begins to chant
      There Maguire was taunted by a group of rival supporters who chanted “f*** United’’ and made disparaging remarks about the 6ft 4in defender’s ability.
      Witnesses also claimed they made sickening references to the devastating 1958 Munich air disaster.
      Footage obtained by The Sun on Sunday shows three men ­jeering and gesticulating towards Maguire who is visibly uncomfortable and appears tense.
      He is seen walking away and looking at his phone while the grinning tourists sing and point at him.
      However, things did not turn ­violent. Later Maguire and his group are said to have gone to a party at a swanky private villa hired out by a Greek businessman.
      Cops were eventually called to break it up at 4.15am.
      A partygoer claimed: “Harry was there, but he managed to get out when the police came. Harry was enjoying himself with his friends. He wasn’t misbehaving.’’
      The following day Maguire and his group returned to SantAnna.

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      Maguire, pictured back row top left, was seen leaving court in Syros with his group yesterdayCredit: EPA

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      Harry is said to have mistaken police for attackers and lashed out at themCredit: EPA
      However on Thursday evening, sources claimed Maguire again bumped into the fans who had taunted him the evening before, this time with fateful consequences.
      A witness said: “These guys were trying to wind him up.
      “It was OK on the Wednesday night but by Thursday night they had stepped it up. They clearly wanted to have a fight with him.’’
      A local called Kafatos, said: “Another group of British men started abusing them, saying he was a rubbish footballer and played for a rubbish team.
      “They were also calling him a fridge and I didn’t really understand what they meant by that.’’
      Brit tourist Sam Moore added: “This group of British lads were out for trouble and were being really abusive towards Maguire and his club.
      “I could hear them singing about the Munich air disaster and saying other vile things.

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      Harry was holidaying with fiancee FernCredit: Instagram

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      Rival fans allegedly jeered at the Manchester United captain during his drinking sessionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “You could tell that they wanted to have a punch-up with Maguire.
      “I don’t know what football team they supported but they didn’t like Manchester United — that much was obvious.’’
      Maguire and two pals were accused of brawling with rival fans and cops outside a nightclub.
      Police said they continued scrapping at the station before allegedly offering officers bribes to drop the case.
      A spokesperson for the Greek police said: “Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened to settle a dispute between a group.
      “However, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists.

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      Maguire’s sister Daisy is said to have suffered a ‘stab wound’ to her arm – and her brother jumped to her defence

      “The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.
      “Then one of the detainees tried to offer money so the process against them would not be completed.’’
      Maguire was bought from Leicester City for £85million last summer, a world record sum for a defender.

      Following Man Utd’s loss to Sevilla, he said: “It means a lot to us, the boys are devastated. Losing isn’t acceptable.”
      As a result of the incident, Gareth Southgate is reported to be considering Maguire’s place in the England squad for next month’s games against Iceland and Denmark.

      Harry Maguire leaves court after ‘brawl with Brits and police’ in Mykonos
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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      in Boxing

      Dillian Whyte STUNNED by Alexander Povetkin as Russian gets up from canvas to land huge KO

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      DILLIAN WHYTE blew 1000 days as No1 contender inside 15 minutes against Alexander Povetkin after a brutal KO.
      The WBC interim and silver belt contest was billed as the ‘battle of the left hooks’ but it was a brilliant left uppercut that left the 32-year-old spark out on his back in the fifth.

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      Alexander Povetkin stunned Dillian Whyte with a savage knockout

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      Whyte was left out cold on the canvas
      Whyte scored two knockdowns on the 40-year-old Russian in the fourth round and looked to be coasting toward a 12th consecutive win and his long overdue title fight against the winner of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s trilogy.
      But the referee did not even need to count when Povetkin detonated a sensational shot on the Body Snatcher and robbed him of all of his dreams.
      Whyte made a slow but steady start with half a dozen crisp jabs ramming into his rival’s face.
      Povetkin was not as patient, hurling two wild haymakers over the top that Whyte dodged, making the celebrated amateur look amateur.

      The couple of punches Povetkin did land were hooks to the body but they did nothing to worry the 18st Jamaica-born powerhouse.
      Both bangers went to the body in the second, Whyte aiming his trademark left hook lower than usual to look for the Soviet’s ribs.

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      Whyte had Povetkin down twice in round four
      Povetkin rammed a couple of right hands toward Whyte’s gut but he never looked and he blocked the first looping left hook Povetkin aimed at his chin.
      The South Londoner started the third with a thudding left hook to Povetkin’s temple that should have put him in the driving seat for the rest of the session.

      But the wiley old 2004 Olympic gold winner slugged his way back into the rounds and might have pulled it back on the scorecards.
      Whyte almost had the fight won in the fourth when he dropped Povetkin twice in the fourth. A couple of right hands  and a left hook collapsed him early in the round.
      The interim champ kept his cool, didn’t get greedy and waited until the end of the shift to again floor Povetkin with a left uppercut.
      But Povetkin connected with a perfect peach of a shot and Whyte’s career was left in tatters.

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      Povetkin won the WBC Diamond heavyweight belt
      The Brixton ace – who was stabbed and shot during a brutal childhood spent raising hell on the South London streets – wore a costume stab vest for his ring walk but it could not protect him against the savage blow.
      Whyte spent 22 weeks training at his new Portugal training camp, a move that cost him his partnership with trainer Mark Tibbs.
      He dropped around 18lbs after ballooning up to 19st 5lbs for a sluggish win over Mariusz Wach in Saudi Arabia in December.
      Once he landed back in the UK on Tuesday he checked into the Brentwood Holiday Inn but chose to shack up on a couple of Winnebagos to avoid the Russian veteran.
      Whyte and promoter Eddie Hearn claimed the motorhome motel was a necessary move to prevent any pre-bout rumbles but their cordial media duties on Thursday and Friday made the caravans look little more than a clever PR stunt.

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      HARRY BINGE
      Maguire & pals racked up £63k bill in 5 hours during bender before brawl arrest

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      FIGHT NIGHT
      Whyte KNOCKED OUT in shocking defeat to Povetkin

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      VIRUS SHOCK
      England star and 2 other Prem aces test positive for Covid-19 after Greece trip

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      FERRY SORRY
      Harry Maguire ‘must go back to Mykonos to APOLOGISE for brawl before UK return’

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      HARRY’S BLOODY RAGE
      Harry Maguire mistook cops for gang targeting him after sister stabbed

      Povetkin scored a savage win over Liverpool’s David Price in 2018 and outpointed Hughie Fury a year later. An patriotic Brixton boy Whyte insisted he had been eyeing up a revenge mission on the Soviet for two long years.
      But Whyte’s two-fight nemesis Joshua – who was on the site for commentary duty – was not as generous to his fellow Londoner and backed Povetkin to land a shock win over his old rival.
      And AJ was proved right as the man he beat in 2018 utterly flattened by the man he beat in a 2015 barnstormer.

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      Povetkin is now mandatory for Tyson Fury’s WBC title More

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      in Soccer

      Neymar has chance to jump out of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow as PSG face Bayern, claims Owen Hargreaves

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      TONIGHT is the night for Neymar to emerge at last from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
      That is the verdict of former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who would naturally prefer his old club to see off Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.

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      Neymar will lead the line for PSG against Bayern Munich
      But Hargreaves reckons the Brazilian has a real opportunity in the Champions League final to prove he can succeed Ronaldo and Messi as the best player in the world.
      The BT pundit said: “He’s probably the most talented player on the pitch. I don’t think anybody disputes that.
      “In pure talent, not many can touch Neymar. There’s only really Messi and Ronaldo.
      “That is what has maybe at times, not frustrated people . . . but because he is so gifted, you expect him to produce it all the time.

      “He has the talent to be the best player in the world.
      “I think that is probably what the idea was in going to PSG — the show was going to be his. Then Mbappe came out of nowhere and almost got ahead of him.
      “It’s a huge stage for him. This is what he has dreamed of.”

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      Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated European football in the last decade
      Thirtysomethings Messi and Ronaldo, for all their brilliance, were not able to make up for the shortcomings of Barcelona and Juventus when it came to the crunch in the Champions League.

      But during the Lisbon mini- tournament, Neymar has shown signs that he has the maturity and the work ethic to help turn underachieving PSG into winners at last.
      Hargreaves says the stars could be finally aligning for the striker, now 28, to put his and the French giants’ mark on a big occasion.
      Former Manchester United ace Hargreaves said: “The one thing you could say about Cristiano and Messi is, as good as they were and still are, their application to work and improve and be consistent is off the charts.
      “Neymar, on his day, is probably the best player in the world — but sometimes it’s not there. You don’t really get that with Ronaldo.
      “Even when Juventus went out — what is he, 35? — he was still head and shoulders their best player.
      “Maybe it takes time. If you want to be the best player in the world, a lot of people are going to have an opinion on that.

      Neymar, on his day, is probably the best player in the world — but sometimes it’s not there. You don’t really get that with Ronaldo.
      Owen Hargreaves

      “Maybe it takes being 27 for you to realise ‘I’m running out of time’ and a coach to come in at the right time, in Thomas Tuchel, to say, ‘Look, this is it, this is the blueprint’.
      “You look at Liverpool, it’s not a coincidence they win the Champions League and then the Premier League.

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      Owen Hargreaves backed Neymar to jump out of Messi and Ronaldo’s shadow
      “You never saw Mo Salah as a pressing machine when he played at Roma. Klopp has made all the boys buy in.
      “I think for Neymar, the penny has dropped. For the first time, I’ve seen him actually pressing, working back, not floating. You’ve got to credit Tuchel for that.”
      But for PSG to complete an unprecedented quadruple of all three domestic trophies and the Champions League, Tuchel will have to overcome the Bayern Munich juggernaut steered by fellow German Hansi Flick.
      Hargreaves makes his old club favourites but says Neymar and Mbappe, within Tuchel’s team framework, can hit Bayern where it hurts.

      Ex-England star Hargreaves said: “Normally Neymar does something outrageous and special. But if he can be a team player and work hard, then Bayern give everybody a chance.
      “Paris Saint-Germain will get chances. I think Neymar just needs to be sensible and work hard and be part of that team.
      “If they can win it 30 yards from goal, he can work his magic. He’s more than capable, he takes your breath away with what he can do.”

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      in Soccer

      John Stones will stay and fight for Man City future even if it puts England Euros dream at risk

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      JOHN STONES is prepared to fight for his Manchester City future — even if it means putting his Euros dream on the line.
      The centre-back has fallen down the Etihad rankings and was tipped to move this summer.

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      John Stones is prepared to fight for his Manchester City futureCredit: Rex Features
      But the England international does not want to be shoved out and insists he can force his way back into Pep Guardiola’s plans.
      Boss Pep has already brought in Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40million, while Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is a potential £65m buy as well.
      And Stones knows by staying he risks his place in the Three Lions starting XI for the delayed Euro 2020 finals next summer.
      Stones is in the final two years of his £130,000-a-week contract and has so far been kept waiting on an extension.

      Former club Everton — who sold him to City for £47.5million four years ago — West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea have shown an interest in the 26-year-old.
      Despite his lack of starts, Stones is happy at City but knows things must come to a head soon as Guardiola will not want to risk losing him for  nothing.

      Stones was left on the bench for last week’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Lyon, with Guardiola starting Barcelona target Eric Garcia, who has turned down a new deal.
      Yet Stones plans to fight on, especially now he is clear of the injuries which dogged him last term.

      He knows Garcia’s likely departure could reopen the door to the first team and is willing to take the gamble to become a City regular once more.

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      in Soccer

      Phil Foden set for first England call-up and he’s angling to be the new Gazza

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      IT IS hard to think of a bigger challenge than being asked to replace David Silva at Manchester City and revive memories of Gazza for England.
      But Phil Foden has earned the right to have a go.

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      Italia 90 reruns have helped recall fond memories of Paul Gascoigne in the England midfield

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      Like Gazza, England prodigy Phil Foden is a keen fisherman
      The 20-year-old City star will be named in a senior England squad for the first time on Tuesday.
      He is likely to be joined by uncapped Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish with Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood, 18, also in line for a debut call-up by manager Gareth Southgate.
      Southgate revealed in June how important he thought Foden could be in providing the invention and guile that has been missing from the England midfield.
      While live football was suspended, the Three Lions boss had joined the nation in watching reruns of Italia 90 and Euro 96, when Paul Gascoigne was at the heart of England’s progress to the semi-finals.

      Asked about Foden, Southgate said: “Phil is definitely a different sort of player, with attributes that are rare in our game.
      “When you look through midfield players throughout the world, you go back to those two tournaments.

      If he can break into Manchester City’s team he will clearly be playing at a very high level and he will be in our squad.
      Gareth Southgate

      “Gascoigne was so different to anything else we had and, in fairness, in a different way Steve McManaman was, albeit coming from wide.
      “So it’s great that we are developing these players but the obvious thing is he’s got to play.

      “If he can break into Manchester City’s team he will clearly be playing at a very high level and he will be in our squad, without a doubt.”
      Comparisons to players of the level of Gazza are clearly not new.
      Foden has been seen as the replacement for Silva at City for some time and been tipped for the top for years.
      Incidentally, the Stockport lad also loves to fish — famously one of Gazza’s favourite hobbies — and has spent time off recently angling in the UK.
      Events in Mykonos involving 2018 World Cup hero Harry Maguire will overshadow the announcement of the first England party for almost ten months. And Southgate already had enough to worry about before the Maguire issue.
      The usual headaches of being an international manager will be intensified to migraine level by the Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions.

      Bringing together players from different teams, with different styles, will be all the more difficult with the added protocols around training, travel and matchdays.
      Club-versus-country conflicts and the ups and downs of form and fitness will only be more extreme in the most congested season in history.
      But Foden is the prime example of the kind of “problem” any manager loves — a young player ready to take his chance to prove he is ready to compete for a place against established stars.
      And the upcoming Nations League matches in Iceland and Denmark should be that chance.
      Foden started seven of City’s 14 games after football resumed in June, scoring five goals and performing for the most part like someone who was ready to fulfil at least some of the predictions about him.
      City won every game he started.
      In their two most disappointing defeats, the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal and Champions League quarter-final with Lyon, he was a substitute — and an unused one on that numbing night in Lisbon last Saturday.
      By Southgate’s own criteria, Foden has earned a first senior call-up and, you would think, some game time. And if it is midfield creativity the England boss craves, then this also looks like a good time to take a look at Grealish.

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      Jack Grealish is set to be handed his first senior England call-upCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Aston Villa captain, 24, was in line to be picked for the March friendlies that were cancelled. Then Grealish was among the Premier League’s Covidiots who failed to follow lockdown rules.
      Southgate said one transgression would not be enough to KO a player from his plans — but warned he and his backroom team would take a dim view of repeated misbehaviour.
      On the pitch, Grealish is surely in credit after leading Villa to a great escape from relegation.
      It would be a surprise if Southgate did not call him up at last, almost five years since he declared for England after previous appearances for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
      A number of the team which started England’s World Cup semi- final against Croatia on July 11, 2018, are no longer certain of a place in the squad, let alone the starting XI. Kyle Walker was already out of favour before his lockdown antics.
      City team-mate John Stones may need to find a new club where he can play regularly if he is to stay in the England reckoning. The same applies to Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

      He is now lower in the pecking order for club and country than Greenwood, whose rapid development may well be rewarded on Tuesday.
      And what about Dele Alli? Like Walker, he was left out of Southgate’s last squad, for November’s Euro 2020 qualifiers and few would claim he has done much since to justify a recall.
      The Tottenham star may sneak into the squad on this occasion, given Southgate is set to name a few more players than the usual 25 or 26.
      But regaining his place in the team is another matter… especially with Foden’s star on the rise.

      Manchester City players İlkay Gündoğan and Phil Foden open up about their own mental health   More

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      in Soccer

      Harry Maguire may be left out of England squad as Gareth Southgate aims to let Mykonos drama blow over

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will consider leaving Harry Maguire out of the England squad in order to let his Mykonos drama blow over.
      Maguire yesterday flew home to face the football fallout from the boozy brawl that landed him in court.

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      Harry Maguire pictured outside on court on the Greek island of Mykonos

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      Gareth Southgate must make a decision over the Manchester United skipper’s place in his squad
      His legal case could be wrapped up as soon as Tuesday — the day Southgate is due to name his party for the Uefa Nations League trips to Iceland and Denmark.
      But the Three Lions boss may well decide to take the Manchester United captain out of the firing line and prevent all the focus being on how he performed in the wake of the Greek incident.
      United’s involvement in the Europa League semi-finals means Maguire would have limited time to regain match fitness for next month’s games in any case.
      Omitting the 2018 World Cup star from the first England squad for ten months would still be a big call for Southgate, but it looks like the best solution for all sides.

      United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of time before the new season to decide whether Maguire, 27, deserves to keep the armband.
      But Southgate has to make a call much sooner.

      The England boss will not want to pre-judge the legal case, in which the defender has denied all charges.

      And the fact Maguire has been allowed to leave Greece supports claims his alleged crimes are misdemeanours rather than felonies.
      But at the same time, Southgate must weigh up how far Maguire has broken the unwritten rules he expects England players to follow.
      The Three Lions boss dropped Raheem Sterling from a Euro 2020 qualifier last November following an altercation with Joe Gomez while on international duty.
      On the face of it, that was a more minor incident than what is alleged to have happened on Mykonos in the early hours of last Friday.
      When asked in June about how he would treat stars like Jack Grealish for breaking lockdown rules, the England boss said he would not judge anyone on one incident.

      Harry Maguire played more minutes than any other footballer in the world in 2019-20

      But Southgate stressed: “It is clear the character of your senior players and the influential players and the drive within the team is critical.
      “All of our players have to recognise that  with England there’s a further level of profile as well.
      “And they’ll be held more accountable than just a player that plays club football. They have to be conscious of that.”

      Harry Maguire leaves court after ‘brawl with Brits and police’ in Mykonos More

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      in Soccer

      Aston Villa plot £30m transfer bid for Celtic hotshot Odsonne Edouard to bolster attack

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      ASTON VILLA are to test Celtic with a £30million bid for French goal machine Odsonne Edouard.
      Villa plan to spend big and have several targets but the forward, 22, is their priority.

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      Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is being eyed up by Aston VillaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Boss Dean Smith is also keen on Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma from his old club Brentford.
      But he first wants to find out if Edouard can be snatched from the Scottish champions after bagging 28 goals last season.
      Arsenal may drop out of the race to leave the door open for the Midlanders.
      Crystal Palace and Leicester are also in the hunt.

      Edouard has not shown any sign of being interested in a move to a ‘lesser’ English club but Villa have cash to tempt him with a major contract.

      Their financial power is also giving them a chance in the Watkins and Benrahma races.
      Meanwhile Blackburn are snapping up young Hoops striker Connor McBride.
      Scotland youth cap McBride, 19, thinks he will have a better chance of progress in England.

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