It would take an “astronomical fee” for Swansea City to part with in-form Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony, manager Gary Monk said.
According to reports, Bony was a target for Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur during the close-season but he remained at the Liberty Stadium and last month signed a one-year contract extension that ties him to the club until 2018.
“It would take an astronomical fee for him to go anywhere,” Monk said.
“We are not a selling club, we don’t need to sell.”
Klopp can’t explain Dortmund rut
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes anybody who wants a subscription to success should become a Bayern Munich fan, while admitting he never envisioned things going as badly for his side as they currently are.
Klopp again insisted he will not walk away from the Bundesliga strugglers who are a point adrift at the bottom of the table.
“I don’t think I could ever have imagined things going as badly as they currently are for us,” Klopp said.
“But it’s stopped surprising me for the past two or three weeks. We’ve got so many injuries and we’ve been conceding goals which are more than just ridiculous.”
Henry is an Arsenal man – Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Thierry Henry will “certainly” return to the club in some capacity in the future.
Henry confirmed on Monday that he will leave the New York Red Bulls after four-and-a-half years with the MLS franchise, prompting speculation that a return to Arsenal could be in the offing.
“He is an Arsenal man. The best moment certainly of his life and of his career has been experienced here,” Wenger said.
“Certainly one day he will come back here. In what role I don’t know, that is what he has to think about: what direction he wants to give to his next life.”
Roche proud of FIFA nomination
Steph Roche has spoken of her pride after being nominated alongside two of the world’s most high-profile players for FIFA’s goal of the year.
The Ireland women’s international’s stunning volley for Pea-mount United against Wexford in October 2013 will be up against two goals from the World Cup – James Rodriguez’s fine volley for Colombia against Uruguay and Robin van Persie’s diving header in Holland’s defeat of Spain.
Roche, 25, said: “It is always a good step to see women nominated for the Puskas Award and this is obviously the first time one has been in the top three.
“I am obviously proud as a woman and as a footballer to be recognised at this level and for FIFA to see it as a good goal.”
Balotelli apologises for social media post
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli apologised yesterday for his social media post which appeared to contain potentially racist and anti-Semitic references.
Balotelli, who made the post on his Instagram page yesterday, will be investigated by the Football Association (FA), according to British media reports.
The 24-year-old Italian later deleted the post.
“I apologise if I’ve offended anyone,” Balotelli said on Twitter. “The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context it may have the opposite effect.”
Liverpool said they will speak to the striker who signed from Milan in August.
Zabaleta impressed by Lampard
Frank Lampard is “still playing like he’s 18 years old” and driving Manchester City’s Premier League title race with former club Chelsea, according to Pablo Zabaleta.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard fired his 174th Premier League goal in City’s 3-0 victory at Southampton on Sunday.
“For me what makes Frank Lampard special is how professional he is in training: this is what I appreciate from him,” said Zabaleta.
“You see him at training: he is the first to arrive on the training ground and the last to go home.
“He won everything with Chelsea, he’s a legend in football and he’s still playing like he’s 18 years old.”
Pardew: Sissoko to make a donation
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has revealed Moussa Sissoko has been asked to make a donation to charity for his sending-off against West Ham last weekend.
The France international received two yellow cards in quick succession in the 1-0 defeat, first for kicking the ball away and then for a heavy challenge on Andy Carroll.
“He should not have kicked the ball away, it was a stupid booking and the second one was pure frustration,” Pardew said.
“It probably came from him feeling stupid about kicking the ball away so that was almost a self-inflicted second booking.
“I’m disappointed with him, and I have talked to him about what contribution he’ll be making towards charity.”