Transfer Rumours: Arsenal to offer £30m for Wilfried Bony

According to reports, Arsenal are set to offer £30m to obtain the services of want-away Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has turned his sights to the Ivorian after failed attempts at signing Alexander Lacazette and Jamie Vardy from Lyon and Leicester respectively.

Wenger was keen on roping in the striker back in 2015, but Manchester City were quicker to act.

Bony has not been a part of Pep Guardiola’s plans and is expected to leave by the end of the transfer window. Not a part of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League play-offs squad, Bony was also not included in the Blues’ squad which suffered a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal earlier this week.

Arsenal have been in desperate need for a striker to provide competition for Olivier Giroud up front, but Wenger is still unsure whether Bony remains the best option. With Danny Welbeck unavailable for the start of the season, Giroud remains Arsenal’s only striking option and Wenger is keen on bringing reinforcements before the close of the transfer window.

Bony arrived at the Etihad from Swansea for £25m in 2015 but has failed to make any sort of impact at the football club. The Ivorian, currently the most expensive African football player in the world has scored just 6 league goals in 36 appearances and his playing time is expected to be further limited with the emergence of Iheanacho. Bony has also made 14 international appearances for Ivory Coast.

Bony would represent a £5m profit for Machester City if the deal does go through and Pep would be keen on offloading the 27-year-old at the earliest opportunity.

Arsenal also remain interested in Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne as Wenger attempts to strengthen his squad before the season begins.

Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 14 while Manchester City play host to Sunderland at the Etihad on the 13th.

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