Salomon Kalou and Kolo Toure believe Wilfried Bony will bring strength to Manchester City’s title defence after the club agreed a £28 million (Dh156m) fee for the Ivory Coast striker.
Bony was at Zayed Sports City last night as the Elephants beat Nigeria 1-0 in a warm-up for the African Cup of Nations but played no part in the match as news filtered through of his impending move to the Etihad Stadium.
It is understood the deal has been settled with an official announcement expected in the next 48 hours.
Hertha Berlin forward Kalou, who was part of Chelsea’s title-winning squad in 2009/10, said: “He will bring strength. I think he’s a
very powerful striker and he knows how to score goals. I think he’s going to add a lot of power for the team and a lot of goals.
“We’re all happy for him and hopefully he’ll have a good run there and win the league with City.”
Ivory Coast team-mate Kolo Toure, who made more than 100 appearances for City, had warned Bony he will need to raise his game in order to win a place in their starstudded squad.
When he returns from AFCON duty, Bony will be competing with Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko for a place up front.
“It’s going to be a great move for him," said Toure.
“This is another step he needs now to be mentally really strong because there are tough players there and the competition is tough.
"For him, it’s the next level. When you play for City you have a chance to be champions, which is amazing for him. At the same time to have Bony in the side for City I think is a big strength.”
Bony has proved to be an inspired signing for the Swans since arriving from Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem in the summer of 2013.
He has scored nine Premier League goals already this season, having managed 17 last term.
The Ivorian topped the Premier League scoring charts for the calendar year of 2014 with 20 goals and Swansea manager Garry Monk said club chairman Huw Jenkins “is not stupid’’ in such matters and knows the full worth of Bony.
A natural No9, Bony will add amuch needed physical presence and finishing ability to a City attack that laboured against Everton on Saturday in drawing 1-1.
Yaya Toure, also in Abu Dhabi, is delighted to have his international team-mate alongside him at City, telling The Sun: “Manchester City are always a club that wants important players like Bony and Aguero, they always want to progress and be
at the top of the Premier League.
“If you want to be at the top of the Premier League you need to sign the top players and Bony is one of them at the moment."
