Swansea City’s star striker Wilfried Bony will only move to a top 6 club this Summer, or he’ll stay in South Wales – says his agent.
His agent has stated that his client wants to join a ‘club with ambition’ and has already ruled out Newcastle United’s chances of signing him at the second attempt, after boss Alan Pardew passed on the chance to get him when Swansea did last Summer.
The Magpies will have of course seen that as a massive opportunity missed, as Bony significantly helped his new club finish the season off in 12th place, after an initial relegation scare.
Talking about Newcastle, Bony’s agent Lacina said:
‘They could have signed him for £10m, but they said they weren`t sure if he was good enough, that he was only playing in Holland,`
‘I know Wilfried. I brought him over from Africa and I know what he can do. I used to be a player and coach myself.
‘I told them that he would score goals wherever he played but it was only Huw Jenkins (the Swansea chairman) who took the risk. Now he is worth £20m.
‘Newcastle is a traditional, fantastic club but they are always the same with transfers. I was in contact with them a couple of years ago over Tomas Ujfalusi, who played for Atletico and Fiorentina, but it was a similar story.`
16 goals in 27 Premier League starts, plus an extra 9 in 15 cup games means the 25 year-old has caught a lot of attention from a number of clubs around Europe.
He’s been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund to name just a small few, but Swansea City manager Garry Monk has previously stated that it would take an ‘astronomical fee’ for the Swans to sell their top goalscorer.
‘I think we can hold on to him, He’s a good guy but money talks.
‘It would have to be an astronomical fee for him to leave though and we’re not a selling club.
There has also been mentions from Monk that he wants to build a team around the Ivory Coast international, and you can see why. He looks like the sort of striker who could suit any style of play, whether that’s a passing style like Swansea’s, or a more direct one like West Ham.
Hopefully, Monk will get his wish and can build his team around Bony for next season. He had a slow start to the season and he was a few weeks behind in preparation after his long and delayed move to the Liberty Stadium. But the goals soon came at the turn of the year, netting six in January.
He scored another 9 in 2014, and his all-round game, including his defensive contribution means he offers so much more than just goals. In today’s market, and what Premier League players can attract in transfer fees, £20m for Bony would be an absolute steal – and an bargain no less.
His agent also added that the ‘next step’ for Bony is a big club in Europe, or he will stay at Swansea City:
‘We have a certain strategy. Bony is in a totally different place to Newcastle and wants to move to a club with ambition.
‘We have had no contact with Newcastle.`
Bony is an integral part to Garry Monk`s Swansea side, but the striker has delivered mixed messages on his future, having reiterated his commitment to the club while also spelling out his understandable desire to play at a higher level.
Swansea have agreed a £6.5m fee for FC Twente striker Luc Castaignos and a move is expected to be wrapped up when Jenkins and the player return from their respective summer breaks.
His arrival is not seen as a precursor to Bony leaving, with Monk keen to enhance his striking options.
Lacina added: ‘The next step for Bony is a top-six team in England or a top team in Germany, Spain or France, or he will stay with Swansea.`
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