Rumour: Liverpool ready to step up interest in Bony with £18m bid

Wilfried Bony:Making noises in the transfer market

Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with a bid for Wilfried Bony this summer, with the Metro claiming that the Reds are preparing an £18 million bid for the Swansea striker.

Bony has been the subject of much speculation in the close season after a superb debut campaign following his £12m move from Vitesse last summer, with Arsenal monitoring Bony’s availability with a view to a bid to boost their attacking options.

Swansea have claimed that they will not entertain the idea of letting Bony go anytime soon, but Liverpool are now preparing to test their resolve, with the player believed to be keen on stepping up to a team in regular European competition.

Brendan Rodgers is believed to want to add a striker to his ranks in order to provide competition for Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, while the power and aerial ability that Bony possesses would provide the Reds with the ‘plan B’ option that Liverpool were often criticised for lacking last season.

With the additional pressures of the Champions League to prepare for this season, Rodgers needs to add strength in depth to his side, that did not have European football to focus upon at all last season.

Swansea are reluctant to sell, but with former manager Michael Laudrup having spent freely last summer, there is a need to rein in their expenditure and the big money sale of Bony could provide them with the funding to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.