Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates scoring a goal against Crystal Palace in his side's Premier League draw on Saturday. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images / November 29, 2014
Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates scoring a goal against Crystal Palace in his side's Premier League draw on Saturday. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images / November 29, 2014

Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony can be had only for ‘astronomical fee’



It would take an “astronomical fee” for Swansea City to part with in-form Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony, manager Gary Monk said on Monday.

The 25-year-old has scored 18 Premier League goals in 2014, two more than his nearest rival Sergio Aguero, and has helped the Welsh team climb to eighth in the table with six goals in his last seven appearances.

According to media 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,” Swansea manager Garry Monk told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s league visit of Queens Park Rangers.

“We are not a selling club, we don’t need to sell. We are very much committed with our players and they are committed to us.

“It shows the work that we are doing with him is paying off. He works very hard on his finishing and his fitness so all credit to him and long may it continue.”

Swansea are likely to be without former Vitesse Arnhem striker Bony, who has scored 11 goals in 32 games for Ivory Coast, during the African Cup of Nations next month and Monk said he might be forced to bolster his attacking options.

“With Wilfried being away for ... a six or seven-game period we’ll obviously be looking to bring in cover in that position,” the manager explained.

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UAE squad v Australia

Rohan Mustafa (C), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Fahad Nawaz, Amjed Gul, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Muhammad Naveed, Amir Hayat, Ghulam Shabir (WK), Qadeer Ahmed, Tahir Latif, Zahoor Khan

Three trading apps to try

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