Wilfried Bony poised to bolster Manchester City’s push for honours

Alam Khan - Reporter 06:32 07/01/2015
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  • Proven commodity: Wilfried Bony's move to Manchester City looks done and dusted.

    Manchester City are poised to land Abu Dhabi-bound striker Wilfried Bony as they strengthen their strikeforce ahead of a push for a European and domestic treble.

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    The Swansea frontman is due to team up with the Ivory Coast national side in the UAE capital for a training camp this week ahead of the African Cup of Nations.

    But Bony’s preparations are likely to be disrupted as City bid to finalise a deal expected to be worth up to £30 million (Dh168m), and four-year contract for the 26-year-old.

    The English champions are limited to a £49m (Dh274m) net spend this season for breaching UEFA’s new Financial Fair Play
    rules, but are looking to rake in around £10m (Dh56m) from the sale of centre-back Matija Nastasic to Schalke or AC Milan, and Scott Sinclair with Aston Villa interested in the winger.

    City have targeted a striker as a priority in the January transfer window after allowing Alvaro Negredo to join Valencia last August on loan, with a £23m (Dh128m) permanent deal agreed, and seeing their attack depleted by injuries.

    Record signing Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are currently sidelined, but could return to action within the next couple of weeks as tough tests follow against Everton, Arsenal and then title rivals Chelsea.

    Midfielder James Milner was moved forward in a “false nine” role, while Stevan Jovetic has also been up front after a spell out himself. 

    But the Montenegro international, troubled by injuries, has admitted he does not favour a lone role.

    “It is not James’ position, and it is also not mine,” he said after scoring in the 3-2 win over Sunderland.

    “I have played a couple of games as a lone striker, but I prefer to play with someone in front of me. But this is an emergency.”

    Boss Manuel Pellegrini does not want to be left short for the second half of the campaign, where City are in contention for three trophies.

    They are currently joint top of the league with Chelsea, host Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup and face Barcelona in a mouthwatering last-16 tie in the Champions League.

    While City would be able to register Bony for the Premier League, they would have to drop one of their foreign contingent – Jovetic or midfielder Fernando are most at risk – if they wanted to include him in their squad for the Champions League.

    The Ivorian has produced impressive performances since joining Swansea from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 for a club record £12m (Dh67m), scoring 34 goals in 70 games.

    He scored twice against City last season and also at the Etihad in November when he gave defenders Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis a torrid time.

    After interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham in the summer, he signed a new contract with Swansea which saw a £19m
    (Dh106m) release clause removed.

    But Bony is understood to have an agreement with Swansea that he can move on if there was a chance of Champions League football.

    City can offer him that and, while there may be some late haggling over the final fee, a deal appears imminent.

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