Transfer talk: Rumours swirl around Manchester City and Wilfried Bony

The noise surrounding a possible move to the Etihad Stadium for Swansea City's prolific strike man won't subside, while Mark Schwarzer moved to Leicester City.

Wilfried Bony has nine goals in 20 Premier League matches this season for Swansea City. Nick Potts / AP

Manchester City

Manchester City have contacted Swansea City about striker Wilfried Bony, Press Association Sport understands.

But it is also understood that City’s initial approach – made since the weekend – has not included them tabling an offer for the Ivory Coast international.

The Welsh club's record signing joined Swansea from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 for just under £14 million (Dh77.8m).

It is thought that if any deal materialises during the January transfer window, then it could be for up to twice that amount.

Bony, 26, agreed fresh Swansea terms in November, penning a one-year contract extension to keep him at the Liberty Stadium until June 2018.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini recently downplayed reports linking the Premier League champions with Bony.

Any move for Bony would be complicated by the fact City currently have no more room to register non-homegrown players in their squad.

Further changes to the squad would therefore be necessary and – with additional European Financial Fair Play restrictions in place – Pellegrini has indicated there is unlikely to be much movement.

Speaking during a press conference on New Year’s Eve, Pellegrini said: “I think that is just one of the 20 or 30 names I have read from the beginning of the season until today that we are (supposedly) interested in.

“I don’t think we are going to be too busy in this window.

“We have restrictions about the amount of money and about the number of players we can put in the Champions League, so I don’t think it will be a special transfer window for our team.”

Leicester City

Veteran Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has joined Leicester City from Chelsea on an 18-month contract, the Premier League strugglers announced on Tuesday.

“Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on a contract to June 2016,” the club said in a statement on their website.

Schwarzer, 42, arrives on a free transfer and is likely to go straight into the Leicester first team, with first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel currently sidelined by a broken foot.

Schwarzer joined Chelsea from Fulham in 2013. He made 12 appearances last season, but fell down the pecking order following Thibaut Courtois’ return from Atletico Madrid and has not yet played in the current campaign.

Schwarzer spent the bulk of his career at Middlesbrough, where he played alongside current Leicester manager Nigel Pearson for two seasons.

He was capped 109 times by Australia – a national record – before retiring from international football in November 2013.

Leicester are currently bottom of the Premier League table, four points from safety, and host Aston Villa on Saturday.

Queens Park Rangers

Argentine striker Mauro Zarate could make his debut for Premier League strugglers QPR this weekend after joining on loan from West Ham United on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old has moved across London for the rest of the season and is in line to play against Burnley in the Premier League.

“We’re really pleased to bring Mauro in. He’s a good footballer, someone with great ability who can play as a No 10,” QPR manager Harry Redknapp said in a club statement.

“I first saw him when he was on loan at Birmingham quite a few years back and I actually tried to take him to Portsmouth back then. He’s a more than capable player, he’s already shown that, and hopefully he can come in here and do well for us.”

Zarate has struggled to nail down a place in West Ham's first team, scoring twice in eight appearances since arriving from Argentine club Velez Sarsfield.

“I need to play and Queens Park Rangers have given me this chance to show what I can do,” he said.

“I am fit and I hope I can be involved on Saturday.”

QPR are 16th in the Premier League, two points ahead of second-bottom Burnley.

Metz

French Ligue 1 side Metz announced the signing of Tunisia international Ferjani Sassi from CS Sfaxien on Tuesday, a day after purchasing Fakhreddine Ben Youssef from the same club.

Sassi, a 22-year-old midfielder, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract, the same as international striker Ben Youssef did 24 hours earlier.

Both players have been called up by Tunisia for the Africa Cup of Nations which begins in Equatorial Guinea on January 17.

Chicago Fire

Brazilian former Southampton forward Guly do Prado has signed for MLS’ Chicago Fire, the club said on Tuesday.

Guly scored 23 goals in 118 appearances for Southampton before he was released in May.

The 33-year-old had previously played in Italy for Perugia and Cesena before joining the Premier League club, initially on loan.

Guly was a popular figure with Southampton fans after being part of the team that won successive promotions from League One and the Championship.

“Guly is a versatile, attacking player,” said Fire head coach Frank Yallop. “I’m pleased to add someone with his experience to strengthen our corps of attack-minded players”.

He is the ninth player to sign for Chicago during the current close season and the second Brazilian following the arrival of centre-half Adailton from Bahia.

Sporting Kansas City

Honduras winger Roger Espinoza has returned to MLS side Sporting Kansas City after being released by English Championship club Wigan Athletic.

Espinoza has won 45 caps for Honduras and featured in the 2012 Olympic team and the World Cup squad in Brazil last year.

The midfielder spent five seasons with Kansas City after being drafted from Ohio State University and was an MLS All Star in 2012.

Espinoza, 28, was released by second tier Wigan in December.

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