Manchester City are now seriously considering paying £65m for an “unplayable” star, who Pep Guardiola has praised in the past.

Man City eyeing new forward despite emphatic West Ham victory

Man City are hot on Arsenal’s heels at the top of the Premier League table, currently sitting just two points behind Mikel Arteta’s side, after thrashing struggling West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Erling Haaland bagged another two goals, taking his tally to 19 in the Premier League before even reaching the half-way stage, while Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden also continued to impress, creating four big chances between them.

The Blues have scored ten more goals than any other top-flight side this season, such is the strength of their attack, with the likes of Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb and Omar Marmoush also fighting for places in the side.

With Marmoush falling down the pecking order, however, Tottenham Hotspur have recently emerged as potential suitors for the Egyptian, even though Guardiola is keen to keep hold of the forward, given the congested fixture list.

Should Man City manage to bring in another forward next month, however, they may be able to let Marmoush go, and they are now seriously considering paying the £65m release clause required to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states City are now ‘moving decisively’ to sign Semenyo, who is attracting interest from a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Interestingly, the report claims the Ghanaian wants to leave Bournemouth in the upcoming window, and would be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium, viewing it as the ideal opportunity to compete for trophies.

Signing "unplayable" Semenyo could give Pep selection dilemma

As previously mentioned, Cherki and Foden have put in some eye-catching performances this season, with the latter amassing ten goals and four assists in 23 matches in all competitions.

Not only that, but Doku has also impressed, providing five assists in the Premier League, so signing Semenyo in January would give Pep a real selection dilemma in attack.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insights Get smarter about transfer news – subscribe to our newsletter for focused coverage of rumours, player profiles and tactical impact. Follow stories like Semenyo-to-Man City and understand how moves reshape top squads. Subscribe Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insights Get smarter about transfer news – subscribe to our newsletter for focused coverage of rumours, player profiles and tactical impact. Follow stories like Semenyo-to-Man City and understand how moves reshape top squads.

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That said, it is clear to see why City are so keen on the 25-year-old, who is now the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League this season, after scoring in the Cherries’ 1-1 draw against Burnley at the weekend.

Premier League top goalscorers

Appearances

Goals

Erling Haaland

17

19

Igor Thiago

17

11

Antoine Semenyo

16

8

Hugo Ekitike

16

8

Pep has made it clear he is a big fan of the Bournemouth star too, having described him as “extraordinary”, while journalist Ed Aarons has described him as “unplayable”.

Related Man City scouts urging Pep to sign Bayern star who's been compared to Rodri

He could become their long-term replacement for Rodri.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

Semenyo has earned a move to a top club, but it would not be a disaster if Man City missed out, given the range of top-quality attacking options they already have at their disposal.

Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are delighted with how the transfer window has gone so far and can’t wait to see who will be arriving next.

Jurgen Klopp wasted no time in revamping his squad, signing Fabinho from Monaco for £40m just days after their defeat in the Champions League final. The Brazilian joined Naby Keita at the club on July 1 with both men set to feature against Chester in Liverpool’s first friendly. Our regulars are also delighted to see Mohamed Salah pen a new five-year-deal containing no release clause.

A title challenge is possible if Liverpool add a few more key signings. An attacking midfielder to replace Philippe Coutinho will be a priority in the summer. Following the collapse of Nabil Fekir’s move to Anfield, Klopp needs to find the right man to partner Keita in the engine room.

Our punters were gutted to see Fekir’s move fall through so Klopp should make an audacious attempt to sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid instead. Valued at £63m by Transfermarkt, the Colombian is 12 months into a two-year loan with Bayern Munich. But following Zinedine Zidane’s dismissal, Madrid might surely be tempted to recall the 26-year-old.

Rodriguez has impressed for Colombia at the World Cup, notching two assists as his country topped their group to set up the round of 16 clash with England. His performances would likely spark a bidding war between some of the biggest clubs in Europe, though the Reds have recently shown a willingness to splash big cash in order to improve.

The former Monaco man is extremely suited to Klopp’s system, capable of playing out wide or centrally like Coutinho. His creativity and technical ability would compliment Keita in the centre of midfield and provide plenty of chances for Liverpool’s forwards.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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Reportedly (as per Don Balon) available for just £40m, this one is a no-brainer.

Liverpool fans, thoughts?

DAV Chandigarh and University of Moratuwa will play the first semi-final on Friday, while Great Britain Combined University Team will take on the University of Karachi in other knockout clash, after all four teams secured their progress on day three of Campus Cricket World Final.University of Moratuwa defeated Bangladesh’s University of Liberal Arts by 15 runs to place them three points ahead of Liberal Arts, who would need to win their final match to qualify for the semi-finals. Moratuwa’s win was propelled by sturdy contributions from the middle order, with Randika Perera the most impressive of the three batsmen who breached 30, hitting his 37 not out from 17 balls, to help his side to 146 for 6.Liberal Arts began with a 30-run partnership, but continued to lose wickets too regularly to mount a meaningful challenge to Moratuwa’s total. They were dismissed in the 19th over, for 131, with Vihangun Ariyaratne taking 3 wickets for 23 from his three overs.University of New South Wales had their first win of the tournament – one which almost got them into the semi-finals – when they defeated University of Karachi by five wickets, in a match shortened to 14-overs a side. New South Wales asked the opposition to bat first, and ensured Karachi could not launch a rapid start, through opening bowler Phil Hartig-Franc, who dismissed both openers and only conceded four runs an over. Karachi’s middle order stabilised the innings, before No. 5 Abdul Khan hit 30 from 16, to help propel his side to 123 for 8.New South Wales began more slowly than they might have wished, and at the end of the eighth over, needed 60 runs from six overs. A 34 to James McNeil and 33 from 10 balls to Hugh Campbell helped them achieve their target however, and a better net-run rate than Karachi gave them hope of reaching the semi-finals.Great Britain Combined University Team denied University of Liberal Arts a place in the semi-finals, with a five-wicket, final-over victory in the evening. Liberal arts made 133 for 8 after being put in to bat, with Mahmudur Rahman and Eftekhar Ahmed, the chief contributors to that score. Rahman, who held the innings together with his 41, could not score at a run-a-ball however, as James Saddington, Ben Wylie and Robert Woolley took two wickets apiece.Great Britain Combined began poorly in their chase, stumbling to 47 for 5 by the 11th over, but an unbeaten 87-run partnership between Jay O’ Nien, who made 34 from 25 and wicketkeeper batsman Alex Martin, who made 47 from 29, helped their side home with four balls to spare.DAV Chandigarh lost their first match of the tournament, as University of Karachi forced their way into the semi-finals with a four-wicket victory in a high-scoring encounter. Gurinder Singh motored Chandigarh to the biggest total of the tournament with a 56-ball unbeaten 101, that was also the tournament’s first century. He had support from opening batsman Jaskaran Singh, who contributed 57 from 39, but found little help from the middle order, after their 96-run second-wicket partnership was broken.Karachi began poorly, losing two wickets for 23 in the fourth over, but launched something of a recovery through Abdul Khan and Ramiz Aziz, who put on 60 together, before No.7 Nabeel Khalid played a stunning innings to bring his side back into the tournament from the brink. His unbeaten 51 from 18 balls featured six sixes and two fours, and Khalid’s heroics helped Karachi reel Chandigarh in with five balls to spare.

Ashton Agar will return to international cricket for the first time since his memorable cameo in the 2013 Ashes series, after being chosen as the lone spin bowler in Australia’s first ODI squad since winning the World Cup final at home in Melbourne in March.Agar has been chosen with an eye towards the future as the selectors continue to deny Nathan Lyon a place in the limited-overs side. Joe Burns and Marcus Stoinis have also been chosen in the limited-overs squad for the first time, the former expected to replace the injured Aaron Finch as David Warner’s opening partner.As expected, Steven Smith will now captain the national side in all formats, the first time this has been the case since Ricky Ponting retired from T20 internationals in September 2009. Michael Clarke then led the T20 side until he also retired from the format in January 2011 in order to concentrate on Test and 50-over matches.

Australia’s ODI squad for England series

Steven Smith (capt), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson, David Warner
In: Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade
Out: Michael Clarke, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson

Stoinis’ inclusion comes largely as a result of James Faulkner’s four-match suspension from international duty due to a drink driving offence when playing for Lancashire in England’s domestic NatWest Twenty20 Blast competition. James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile also make international returns, while Matthew Wade will don the ODI gloves vacated by the retired Brad Haddin.”The squad we have selected has a few fresh faces in it as well as some experienced players that will provide us with the right balance,” the selection chairman Rod Marsh said. “Ashton has performed very well with the ball since his return from shoulder surgery including taking five wickets in the recent Australia A game in India. He has played in these conditions over here before and the National Selection Panel believes he has a very bright future.”Joe has impressed us immensely over in India with Australia A. He is a very capable young batsman who has experience opening, and we think he will grab his opportunity with the white ball during this series. Marcus has performed very well in India during the four-day series and we have always liked that option of the extra allrounder in our side, so with James Faulkner’s unavailability, this is a great opportunity for Marcus.”Agar’s inclusion may also be a pointer towards the way the national selectors are thinking in terms of spin-bowling spots for the Test tour of Bangladesh in October. The wrist spinner Fawad Ahmed was taken on the dual West Indies and Ashes tours ahead of Agar but has not performed to the standards the selectors hoped for.Other limited-overs merchants to return to Australian duty will include George Bailey, who gave up his place in the middle order during the World Cup to allow for Clarke’s return from injury and will now reclaim it, while Cameron Boyce will again be granted a chance to bowl in the lone T20 match ahead of next year’s World T20, to be held in India.Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood were not considered for the squad due to their heavy workloads during the Ashes, and Marsh said the selection panel’s preference was for the pair to enjoy full pre-seasons back home rather than lingering in England.”After Test matches both here and in the West Indies,” Marsh said, “we have opted to give both of those fast bowlers the opportunity to have a pre-season build-up in the lead-up to what will be another busy Australian season.”Australia squad: Steven Smith (capt), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron Boyce (T20I only)

ScorecardChris Rushworth took his 80th scalp of the season as wickets tumbled at Chester-le-Street•Getty Images

On a day when 19 wickets fell at a heavily overcast Chester-le-Street, the one which got away proved costly for Durham.Dawid Malan was dropped first ball and went on to reach 56 as Middlesex recovered from 29 for four to close the second day on 118 for 4 in their second innings, leading by 145.As the sun threatened to put in an appearance in the final hour conditions eased and no wickets fell in the last 20 overs as Neil Dexter assisted Malan in the revival.Durham also lacked support for Chris Rushworth, who took three for six in seven overs to equal Ottis Gibson’s Durham record (set in 2007) of 80 first-class wickets in a season, 75 coming in the championship. He returned for three overs at the end without joy as Dexter moved on to 46.Malan was put down at third slip by Gordon Muchall, spoiling a day on which he made his first home half-century in the Championship for four years. He was last out for 64 with Durham’s total on 169.The drop also marred Graham Onions’ day as he had just had Nick Compton lbw to add to his 7 for 68 in dismissing Middlesex for 196 in their first innings.Resuming on 141 for 5, Middlesex lost Dexter to the second ball of the day, completing Onions’ second five-wicket haul of the season. The ball stood up off a good length to take the shoulder of the bat on the way to Ryan Pringle at fourth slip.There were six slip catches in the innings, with Paul Collingwood holding four at first and Muchall taking a sharp one at third to give Onions his revenge after Toby Roland-Jones had taken 15 off his previous over.When Durham batted Roland-Jones struck timber in both his first two overs, Mark Stoneman playing across a full-length ball to lose his leg stump before Graham Clark shouldered arms to one which didn’t have to deviate much to hit off stump.It became 7 for 3 when Collingwood was squared up by a ball from Tim Murtagh which lobbed off a thick edge for Compton to dive to his right at gully to hold an excellent catch.Roland-Jones produced a beauty to have Scott Borthwick caught behind and two wickets in two balls for James Harris had Durham rocking on 51 for 6.Debutant James Weighell began the recovery when he went in to face Harris’s hat-trick ball and scored 19 off his first seven balls.With Muchall briefly joining in the spree 31 came off 15 balls, but only four more were added before Weighell drove at Harris, bowling round the wicket, and lost his off stump for 25.John Hastings helped Muchall add 30 before slicing to deep cover and there was a second wicket for Dexter when Rushworth fell to a sensational one-handed catch by Roland-Jones, diving to his left at mid-off.Onions contributed 13 not out to a last-wicket stand of 39 before Muchall guided Murtagh to James Franklin at slip.When Middlesex went in again Rushworth nipped the second ball back to take out Sam Robson’s leg stump. Paul Stirling flashed wide of off stump and edged behind and Franklin was lbw when half forward.Onions snared Compton, but with Hastings struggling Durham’s lack of back-up allowed Malan and Dexter to ease Middlesex’s jitters.

Alastair Cook has dropped a strong hint that Moeen Ali will open the batting alongside him during England’s Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month, with Alex Hales set to front up for the tour of South Africa in December and January.Moeen and Hales are competing for the vacancy created by Adam Lyth’s failure to cement the role during the Ashes, in which he scored 115 runs at 12.77 in the course of the five-Test series.Moeen, who has been picked primarily as a spinner throughout the summer, is being considered for a promotion on the slower surfaces of the UAE, partly in order to make extra room to include an extra slow bowler.Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire legspinner, could make his Test debut against Pakistan, although Samit Patel, a renowned player of spin, is also considered a strong option, having been belatedly added to the squad following a thumb injury to Surrey’s Zafar Ansari.”The conditions are quite unique and I think we have to cover our bases quite a bit,” Cook told Sky Sports News. “We might have to do a short-term option; it might be that Mo opens the batting in this series and doesn’t open in South Africa, or Alex takes his chance in the warm-up game and we go with that balance of the side.”We have options, we’ve got to be pretty clear early on in the tour what we’re going to do. We have got our ideas but we haven’t chatted with the lads.”Moeen, who has batted at No. 8 since the Lord’s Test against New Zealand in May, admitted he would love the chance to open alongside Cook, a role he has performed with some success in one-day cricket.”I’m pretty happy wherever,” he said. “I’d love to open in the UAE if I got the opportunity, but I’m happy at eight. If the captain and the coach wanted me to open I’d be happy to do that.”Whoever gets the job will become Cook’s seventh opening partner in three years, since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012, following on from Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott and Lyth.”It’s a little bit frustrating,” said Cook. “The guys all had a really good taste of it and all did okay without anyone grabbing it and making it their own, and that’s the chance for whoever gets it next.”It’s a big step from county cricket to international cricket and opening the batting as well, you’re playing against the best bowlers with the new ball. It’s a pretty tough job. No one has quite nailed their opportunity.”

The influence of a World Cup winning Australian did not rub off on South Africa at the tournament earlier this year, but they have not given up on Michael Hussey’s magic yet. Hussey is back with the squad and will work with them during the three-match T20I series in India, with the focus on preparation for the World T20 in next year.Hussey will work as a specialist batting consultant – South Africa’s second as they also have former coach Gary Kirsten on a 50-day-a-year contract – and T20I captain Faf du Plessis hoped he will teach the newer members of the team about both temperament and technique.”Mike is such a good guy from a coaching point of view. He has got a great batting mind so the young batters coming into the team, he’s the best guy you can learn from,” du Plessis said. “He does all the right things. He trains hard and fits in beautifully into our team. I think we are very lucky to have him in our side.”Du Plessis’ praise suggested Hussey’s involvement could extend beyond the India tour to the World T20, where South Africa will want the likes of Quinton de Kock and David Miller to fire. Both lacked runs recently, and de Kock was even dropped to the South Africa A side after a lean run in Bangladesh, though Miller, who last scored an international half-century 15 innings ago at the World Cup, survived. South Africa will hope the problems Miller had with his positioning at the crease have not. If they have, Hussey, also a left-hand batsman, may be able to help.Similarly, Hussey could work with de Kock, who recovered from his rocky road by scoring three centuries for the A side on the tour of India, but may still need tightening up outside the offstump. South Africa’s core of senior batsmen – du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy – will also look to feed off Hussey’s knowledge, which has so far tried to instil in them the value of an all-round team performance.Hussey was with the South Africa team in the build up to the match against India in the 2015 World Cup, and he emphasised the need for some of the lesser lights to shine in major tournaments. “To win World Cups, you need world class performers and you look down the list of the South African team, you’ve got AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, JP Duminy, Morne Morkel. You need those guys to fire and play well in World Cups and then that fires the other guys,” Hussey said at the World Cup. “But quite often you need some unsung heroes as well.”I look at the South Africa team and see a lot of those world class stars and there might be some unsung heroes like a David Miller or one of the other bowlers can come in and do a job as well.”South Africa’s current T20 squad has the same blend of big names and bits-and-pieces players, who will have to start seeing themselves as part of the bigger picture. Farhaan Behardien has started to do that, fitting in at No.7, sharing the fifth bowler duties and working on his finishing abilities with the bat. Both the uncapped Khaya Zondo and allrounder Chris Morris will have to follow suit.Zondo is likely to play some part in the series because of the absence of Rilee Rossouw, who is recovering from a stress fracture of the foot, and Morris should get a look in after David Wiese was ruled out of the series with a hand injury. South Africa’s middle-order will need them to be solid if it is serious about competing for the World T20 and it won’t take Hussey to tell them that.

ScorecardBen Dunk finished the day as the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield season•Getty Images

Ben Dunk’s second century in consecutive matches gave Tasmania a hefty lead on the third day against New South Wales at Bankstown Oval. At stumps, the Tigers were 6 for 272 in their second innings, with a lead of 352 runs, and Dunk was still at the crease on 127 alongside Hamish Kingston, who was on 23.It continued Dunk’s outstanding start to the summer after he scored his maiden first-class century, an innings of 142, in the previous game against Queensland, and then 68 in the first innings of this game. As at the end of day three in this round of Shield matches, Dunk was on top of the competition run tally, narrowly ahead of Victoria’s Travis Dean.Dunk and 18-year-old batsman Jake Doran combined for a 103-run partnership that steadied Tasmania after Doug Bollinger claimed two early wickets to have the visitors wobbling at 2 for 39. George Bailey chipped in with 28 but the key man was Dunk, who by stumps had struck 15 boundaries in his 229-ball innings.New South Wales had started the morning on 6 for 150 and they added 65 for the loss of their last four wickets, with Kurtis Patterson the top scorer on 86. Kingston, Sam Rainbird and Jackson Bird each finished with three wickets.