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With the news of Wilfried Bony’s imminent departure from Swansea City to Manchester City, Garry Monk must turn his attention to Bafetimbi Gomis to take over the striking mantle.

Bony, who is currently on duty for the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, looks set to leave the Liberty Stadium when he returns to Wales after the competition. Since his arrival at Swansea from Dutch side Vitesse in the summer of 2013, the 26-year-old has been a major success.

In his 70 games with the Welsh club, Bony has scored an impressive 34 times in all competitions. Swansea are looking to more than double their £12m fee they paid for the striker, with Manchester City reportedly agreeing to his £30m price tag.

That leaves Monk with the task of replacing his star man, but the Swans’ secondary striker Gomis could yet take the lead role having had to play second fiddle to Bony since arriving at the Liberty Stadium. The ex-Lyon man has only scored one goal in 17 Premier League appearances for Swansea – although his only goal proved to be the winning strike in a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in November.

Monk has backed Gomis to kick-on from his two-goal display against Tranmere in the FA Cup on Saturday. The Swans boss told Sky Sports:

“Gomis probably hasn’t had the amount of minutes he would have liked; he’s still played of course but in terms of why I brought him to the club, you could see it there today. Hopefully he takes it into this next period now, he will be the first choice, and he is ready to go and hopefully he produces performances like that.”

Bony and Gomis both have similar playing styles, and they certainly both have a real eye for goal – the French star may not have hit the ground running at the Liberty Stadium since joining, but if Monk gives him the freedom to express himself as the lone striker up top, then the Swans fans will be hoping to reap the rewards.

Gomis, who was once dubbed as the ‘baby Drogba’ in his early years, proved he’s a natural goalscorer in his five years at the Stade de Gerland – scoring 62 goals in 172 games. The 6ft forward was rumoured to be on his way out of Swansea earlier in the season – with Crystal Palace reportedly being close to securing a deal – but with Bony’s expected departure, the club now insist he’s going nowhere.

It’s obviously going to be a very difficult task for Gomis to fill Bony’s free-scoring boots. The fact that City boss Manuel Pellegrini is willing to fork out so much for the Ivorian, tells you everything you need to know about his ability. But with the impending transfer looming, the responsibility could turn out to work well in Gomis’ favour – time will tell to see if the Frenchman can live up to the high standards set by his team-mate.

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Swansea currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League table, after a very strong first half of the season. A real reason of why the Swans are flying so high is down to Bony’s nine league goals. It will be very interesting to see if the Swansea boss trusts his French striker to take over from the Ivory Coast international or if he elects to spend a chunk of the £30m fee they are about to receive.

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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his team did enough to deserve their 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.

Spurs levelled the scores in second-half injury time, with Clint Dempsey slotting the ball past David de Gea.

Robin van Persie had given United the lead early on with a fine header in the first-half.

Although his team left it late, AVB believes that they did enough across the 90 minutes to deserve at least a point:

“It was important for us. We dominated the whole game – possession and shots,” he told Sky Sports.

“We controlled the game and played well. We deserved to win, to be fair.

“But Manchester United made the most of their opportunity and we were chasing against them, which is very difficult.

“But 60 per cent possession against United and 15 shots against four – we should have gone out with a win. We deserved this last-minute goal.”

The Portuguese coach was also delighted with the performance of his defence, who kept the league leaders’ attack very quiet:

“It might be the game where United have the least opportunities ever in the Premier League.

“It gives you a boost playing so well and getting the goal in the last minute.”

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Van Persie opened the scoring after 25 minutes, heading home at the back post from Tom Cleverley’s cross.

Tottenham pressed for long periods of the second-half and found the equaliser with moments to spare. Dempsey poked home from close range from an Aaron Lennon pass deep into injury time.

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Sunderland fans have pretty much given up on their side escaping relegation, and are now suggesting replacing the first team with schoolchildren.

Chris Coleman’s side fell to yet another home defeat on Saturday as Preston North End left Sunderland with just about the easiest three points they’ll ever get on their travels.

Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for the Black Cats, and goals from Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson gave the visitors a comfortable 2-0 win.

Sunderland are still in with a shot of escaping the drop thanks to the form of teams around them, but fans don’t seem to be holding much hope of a revival.

The Black Cats travel to Derby after the international break before hosting Sheffield Wednesday, and fans have come up with an interesting suggestion to get some better performances.

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The club posted some pictures of Chris Coleman and his backroom staff visiting Ryhope Junior School on Tuesday, and let’s just say the fans don’t seem to think the kids will learn too much from it.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has the quality to play for clubs of Liverpool and Arsenal’s stature, according to ex-team-mate and now Aston Villa star Aly Cissokho.

The 23-year-old French star has been one of Ligue 1’s standout performers this term, topping the division’s scoring charts with a stunning 17 goals.

His electric displays have alerted a host of clubs across Europe, with Liverpool and Arsenal thought to be very keen on the pacey hit-man.

Although Lyon are adamant that he’s not for sale, financial issues in French football may render then unable to resist decent offers, with bids in the region of £15m having been mooted.

Although some players in the past have struggled to adapt following moves over the Channel, Cissokho – who played alongside him at the Stade Gerland – believes that Lacazette has the work ethic and ability to thrive with Arsenal or Liverpool:

“It’s great, I’m happy for him. He’s a player who, when I was there, came from the reserve team to train with us, but you could see he had a future.” He is quoted by Squawka.

“He was serious in his work, and showed his determination in each session. He steadily grew in confidence, and has established himself in the team. I think he’s starting to show his potential to the whole of Europe. He has quality, and is going to get better and better.

“What he is capable of doing now is very good for Lyon and France. He’s a young player, and clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have a lot of competition for places up front, and as a foreigner it’s also different because you have to leave your home town and those close to you.

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“It’s a challenge, it’s up to him to see if he’s ready to take it on. We’ll see what happens in the summer, but he easily has the quality to play in teams of that stature.”

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Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp is hoping to bring Fulham defender Brede Hangeland to Loftus Road in January according to the Express.

Redknapp is desperate to sure up Rangers’ leaky defence that has conceded 33 goals in 19 games and sees them bottom of the Premier League table.

Redknapp has been critical of some of QPR’s high earning players this week and bringing a model professional like Hangeland to club would be a sign of intent from the former Spurs and West Ham manager.

Norwegian defender Hangeland is mulling over a contract extension at Craven Cottage as his current deal expires at the end of the season, so a move in January could be beneficial to all parties if he wants to leave.

The 31-year-old has been superb for the Whites since his arrival in 2008 and has turned down moves away from Fulham in the past.

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A short trip down the road to QPR could be an option though as they will be able to offer him better wages and a longer contract than Fulham.

India Under-19 collapsed after a 133-run stand between Malhotra and Mhatre

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay22-Jul-2025Ralphie Albert sparked not one collapse but two in taking 6 for 53 as England Under-19 edged ahead in the rain-affected 2nd ‘Test’ against India at Chelmsford.The 17-year-old left-arm spinner reduced India from 170 for 1 to 181 for 4 before helping to secure the last six wickets for 37 as India were bowled out for 279 to trail by 30.This looked unlikely when Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra were compiling a dominant stand of 133 for the second wicket. Malhotra would go on to make 120 at nearly a-run-a-ball, but aside from this pair, only Harvansh Pangalia (28) and Kanishk Chouhan (23) reached double-figures, with five batters making ducks.England openers Ben Dawkins and Adam Thomas survived the odd scare to stretch that lead to 123 before bad light ended play 12 overs before the scheduled close.Rain delayed the start until 12.15pm before Malhotra and Mhatre dominated the pre-lunch session.Mhatre, dropped at cover on the second afternoon, was reprieved a second time when Alex Green failed to take a tough caught-and-bowled chance, but soon made the most of his good fortune, two sumptuous fours off the back foot and a huge six from the bowling of day-two centurion Ekansh Singh among the pick of his shots.Malhotra survived a big shout for lbw and being struck midships by James Minto. His cover drive off Green was a thing of beauty, and he raised the 100 of the innings with six over square leg. Another six took him to 50 as India scored 108 in the 75 minutes of play. England looked to be searching for wickets, and the result was too many four balls in a tardy effort.[File photo] Ralphie Albert triggered twin Indian collapses•Getty Images

Whether it was harsh words from the coaches or an inspired lunch choice, England emerged a different side. Tighter bowling brought a breakthrough when Mhatre missed one from Alex French, which angled in and spreadeagled his stumps. He scored 80.Door ajar, Albert produced some spin wizardry to strike twice in as many overs, wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu bunting back a caught and bowled before Rahul Kumar edged low to Thomas at slip.India’s response was to counter-attack, Pangalia dispatching a long-hop over the longest boundary before driving and cutting for successive fours.At the other end, Malhotra’s 16th four took him to his hundred in 101 balls and at 242 for 4 the visitors were back in the ascendancy.However, Pangalia top-edged a cross-bat slog into the deep and RS Ambrish became the third duck on the Indian card when he drove to cover in Albert’s next over.The Surrey youngster was on a roll, Malhotra becoming his biggest prize when perishing to a catch by Ben Mayes on the midwicket fence. Albert wasn’t finished there, Henil Patel his fourth wicket in 13 balls courtesy of Thomas’ second smart slip catch of the afternoon.Thereafter, only Chouhan held up the hosts for a while, Albert’s fellow spinner Mayes (2 for 17) picking up the last two wickets – a due reward for a tight spell.Dawkins and Thomas were both on a pair and began nervously, the former given a life when dropped at first slip off Aditya Rawat on 7.Rawat’s searching examination survived, the pair prospered, Dawkins clearing the ropes at midwicket, while Thomas drove and cut well to reach 50 with seven fours in the last over before the light closed in.

He will be returning to competitive cricket during the BPL in January

Mohammad Isam27-Nov-2023Tamim Iqbal will ‘wait till January’ to make a decision about his future in international cricket.”After the World Cup, I felt that there should be a decision about my international future,” Tamim said during a press conference on Monday. “Throughout my career, I have always kept myself away from indecision. I have always been very open and clear about whatever decision I have taken in my life. I was not in the country for quite some time, so this meeting [with BCB president Nazmul Hassan] was due.”We held the meeting today because we had to postpone it yesterday too. Today is actually not a great day to do all this. The Test match [against New Zealand] starts tomorrow. Since we had to do the meeting today, a statement afterwards was always forthcoming, so I apologise that I am doing this the day before the game. It is important for me and the Bangladesh team that there’s no impact of this in the game.”Related

• Shanto wants Tamim 'available in all formats' for Bangladesh

• How Tamim Iqbal's un-retirement unfolded

• Tamim hits out at BCB; claims he would've been fit for World Cup

• Shakib: Tamim 'childish' and 'not a team man'

Tamim had retired from international cricket last July, only to reverse his decision after meeting Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina the following day. A month later, he also resigned from ODI captaincy. Tamim then played two out of three ODIs against New Zealand in September, even as his successor Shakib Al Hasan had later criticised him for leaving the captaincy at the time. Tamim is yet to respond to Shakib.Tamim said that he was holding back the announcement about his future at Nazmul’s request, adding that he will be returning to competitive cricket during next year’s Bangladesh Premier League in January.”I don’t want to keep things hanging for a few more months. I don’t want to stretch it unnecessarily,” he said. “After discussing a lot of things with the president and the board, I want to respect their decision and wait till January. I could have told you my plan today, but let me play in the BPL, and then we will have another discussion for sure.”Nazmul, meanwhile, said major discussions regarding the issue with Tamim will be done only after national elections – where Nazmul has got the ticket from his home district alongside Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza – in January.”There wasn’t enough time [to discuss matters with Tamim],” Nazmul said. “He said some stuff. But he came at a time when I didn’t have enough time for him. I have the elections in a month. I spend most of my time in my constituency. I told him I will listen and speak to a few more people after the elections. I want to know where the problem is. I want to go into its depth.”

New Zealand’s middle-order staged a fightback but they fell short in the end

Andrew McGlashan11-Sep-20221:05

Finch: My body, and form, wouldn’t have made it till the 2023 World Cup

There was no fairytale finish with the bat for Aaron Finch but he was able to sign off his ODI career with hard-earned 25-run victory as Steven Smith, who will be a contender to be the new 50-over captain, compiled a superb hundred and Australia’s bowlers did enough to repel a spirited effort from New Zealand’s middle order.At 112 for 5 chasing 268, after another difficult innings for Kane Williamson, Australia were comfortable favourites but the recalled Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner revived hopes. However, with the target coming within sight, Phillips was caught centimeters from the fine-leg rope by Sean Abbott, who with ball in hand then had Santner caught at long-off.Smith produced the standout performance with a perfect example of how to overcome tricky new-ball conditions then move through the gears. His 12th ODI century came from 127 deliveries, the slowest of his career, but his second fifty took just 46 balls. It was the first century made in this run of six ODIs against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. In total, the last 20 overs of Australia’s innings brought 161 runs.Shortly before play started there was a minute’s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II and the players wore black armbands.Finch announced his ODI retirement yesterday and his final innings came early in the game after Australia were asked to bat. He was given a guard of honour to the middle by New Zealand, and offered a warm handshake by Williamson, then his off-the-mark single was greeted by applause from the weekend crowd. But there would not be a grand sign-off, as he was worked over by some classy swing bowling from Tim Southee who brought one back through the gate to seal a not unfamiliar dismissal.By then, Australia were already two down with Josh Inglis, recalled to replace the rested David Warner, edging a half-hearted drive against Trent Boult whose outstanding series continued with an opening spell of 6-3-7-1. Smith and Marnus Labuschagne focused purely on survival for a significant period: after 10 overs Australia were 19 for 2 – there were three consecutive maidens from overs seven to nine – and after 15 overs it was 29 for 2.Steven Smith brought up his 12th ODI century•Getty Images

Steadily, though, the pair started to build. Smith pierced the off side with a cover drive off Lockie Ferguson for his first boundary then consecutive fours followed against Neesham. Labuschagne did not find the boundary until his 62nd delivery. Australia’s century came up in the 30th over and also marked a clear shift in tempo, especially from Smith. He launched Southee down the ground to reach fifty and Labuschagne brought up his half-century from 75 balls but could not go much further when he spliced a slower ball from Ferguson to mid-on to end a stand of 118.Smith and Alex Carey added 69 in 10 overs, with the former dominant. Smith showed his game awareness when he swung Neesham over the leg side for six but noticed New Zealand had too many fielders outside the ring and was signalling the free hit the moment the ball left his bat. His innings ended when he gave himself room against Santner and was bowled. Glenn Maxwell’s stay was brief and Carey could not quite cut loose, but Green helped add the finishing touches with two sixes in his 12-ball 25.Given how the first two games went, it looked a steep chase. A positive opening stand of 49 was broken when Devon Conway drove to backward point where Smith took a low catch. Conway stood his ground but the third umpire ruled the fingers were under the ball. Finn Allen sent Adam Zampa into the sightscreen before his encouraging innings ended when he chipped to mid-on.The stumps are splattered by Alex Carey, as a dive back can’t save Tom Latham•Getty Images

The innings then started to seize up in a fashion similar to the second game with Abbott again stringing together maidens. Tom Latham was stumped as the ball deflected off his pads back to Carey and Daryl Mitchell top-edged into the off side. Williamson soaked up 56 balls for his 27, finding the boundary just once, before an awful mix-up with Phillips left a frustrated captain walking off.However, Phillips and Neesham played sensibly in the face of a climbing asking rate. Phillips produced some stunning strokes over the off side, headlined by a back-foot drive for six against Starc, and though Neesham picked out long-on – Green producing a clever change of pace – Santner kept the target in sight.It got to 46 needed off 30 which, if not quite in New Zealand’s favour due to the loss of wickets, was a very close game. But the visitors could not get it done. Phillips was inches from clearing deep square, where Abbott tip-toed inside the rope, and in the end the game finished with a lot of fruitless swinging from the fast bowlers. New Zealand did not make a half-century in the series.The victory gave Australia the Chappell-Hadlee series 3-0, although when the trophy is played for again remains uncertain. The two sides are not due to meet in an ODI series under the next FTP running till 2027. New Zealand will now hope they can end their wait for a win against Australia on their soil, dating back to 2011, when they contest the T20 World Cup meeting on October 22.

England players unlikely to be released for tournament restart, says ECB director of cricket

George Dobell27-May-2021England are not planning on making any changes to their plans to accommodate the IPL, according to Ashley Giles.While Giles, the managing director of England men’s cricket, admitted some players may be rested from the tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan, which are likely to take place at the same time as the rearranged IPL, he said it “wouldn’t be for them to go and play cricket elsewhere”.Giles also confirmed the ECB had no plans to alter their schedule – and in particular, the schedule for the Test series against India – to enable a larger window to be found for the IPL. The fifth day of the final Test of the series is currently scheduled for September 14, with England departing for Bangladesh less than a week later. From there they go to Pakistan for two T20Is which have tentatively been scheduled for October 14 and 15. The IPL is likely to restart on about September 18 and run until around October 12.”I’m not aware of anything official, any requests to shift anything,” Giles, speaking at the launch of IG as the new official partner of England Cricket, said. “As far as we’re concerned and what we’re prepared for, the matches will be where they are. I’m not surprised there’s all sorts of speculation. Everyone wants to get their cricket in. But we’ve not received anything official and we’re cracking on.”We have a full schedule. If we go from the end of the fifth Test in September, we are set to leave for Bangladesh on September 19 or 20. We have a full schedule right through including Pakistan and wherever the T20 World Cup is.Related

• KKR captain Eoin Morgan confirms participation in second half of IPL

• England's 2021 tour of Bangladesh pushed to March 2023

• BCCI to conduct remainder of IPL 2021 in September-October in UAE

• England players unlikely to be involved in rescheduled IPL 2021

• BCCI asks ECB to rejig Test series schedule for IPL window

“We are going to have to give some of these guys a break at some point. But the intention of giving guys a break for, say, Bangladesh, wouldn’t be for them to go and play cricket elsewhere.”We have to manage our schedule now, so we get our guys arriving in the best shape possible for the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.”While the relationship between the ECB and BCCI appears reasonably good at present, this is the third IPL season (or part season) mooted within 12 months and there is an understanding that there is simply no more wriggle room in the congested schedule. The difference in approach from the recently abandoned IPL season – where England players were allowed to play ahead of involvement in the New Zealand Test series – is explained by the late arrangement of that Test series, which did not form part of the World Test Championship, and the pre-existing agreement to allow players to go to the IPL.Meanwhile Giles also explained the call-up of Sam Billings into the England squad as reserve keeper and batter. Billings is the only man in the squad who was at the IPL but, unlike Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, who might also have been considered for the role, did not play during the IPL and has spent considerably less time in bio-bubbles over the last year or so. For that reason, he was keen to return to action quicker than most and represented Kent in the LV= County Championship last week.”I think we felt the best option was to [allow the IPL players to] take as much time as they needed after what they’ve been through this winter,” Giles said. “If there was a strong case from the players to get back on the horse a bit earlier and play some cricket then we were prepared to listen to that as well. They know their bodies and minds as well as anyone.”That was the case with Billings. He went back to Kent and played some cricket to put himself in the frame.”Communication was made from [head coach] Chris Silverwood to those players [Bairstow and Buttler] about what the plan was. We felt there was no need to go back on that. They’ve been spending time with families and Jos is away for a few days at the moment. We didn’t want to drag those players out of that at the 11th hour. There was no plan to change that.”IG are an Official Partner of England Cricket. For more information, visit IG.com/uk/england

The New Zealand captain’s action had been reported during the Galle Test in August earlier this year

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2019New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s bowling action is legal again, the ICC confirmed, following an assessment in Loughborough on October 11.Williamson had been reported during the Galle Test in August earlier this year. He bowled three overs of offspin in that game, conceding nine runs without taking a wicket. But now, following a test in an ICC-accredited bio-mechanics centre, it was found that the elbow extension of all his deliveries was within the permissible 15-degree level of tolerance.This was the second time that Williamson’s bowling action had come under scrutiny. He was reported in 2014 and had to make some changes before he could bowl in international cricket again.Williamson is currently nursing a hip injury that had sidelined him from the ongoing five-match T20I series at home against England but, with the ICC clearing his action, he can bowl again when he returns to play for New Zealand.