da betsul： Wilfried Bony is on the verge of joining Stoke on a season long loan move after being spotted at the clubs training ground earlier this morning.
da brwin： The Ivorian joined the Citizens from Swansea City back in January 2015 in a deal worth around £25million, yet has failed to replicate the form he showed at his former club – managing only 10 goals during his brief tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
The former Vitesse striker has been understandably frustrated at his lack of opportunities at City however, having made a mere 20 starts for the Sky Blues and finding himself down the striking pecking order behind both Sergio Aguero and youngster Kelechi Iheanacho.
The arrival of Pep Guardiola at the club earlier this year all but signalled the end for the once prolific forward, and Bony’s move to the Potters will be both a relief for player and club after a difficult season and a half.
At only 27 years of age, however, Bony still has a bright future ahead of him, and will hope he is able to re-find his best form under Mark Hughes at Stoke.
We think the Potter’s have done some terrific business securing the services of the Ivory Coast international, and here are four reasons why …
Proven Record
Bony was the top Premier League scorer for the calendar year of 2014, having netted 20 times for an upcoming Swansea side, and furthermore scored a whopping 25 goals in his first season in English football during the 2013/14 season.
That form hasn’t shown at City, but Bony has certainly proved he is capable of scoring plenty of goals at the highest level when given the opportunities.
Point to Prove
Once on the most sought after forwards in the Premier League – and indeed Europe – the Ivorian’s move to Manchester City came as little surprise given his excellent form during his career at Swansea.
However, limited opportunities and hence a lack of confidence has seen him tumble down in popularity in the opinion poll’s, none less so than City fans themselves who have been vocal at their displeasure with the Ivorian’s performances over the past 18 months.
Bony will want to once again prove he can cut it at the highest level, and Stoke City could be the perfect platform for him to do so.
Link-Up Play
With the ball at his feet, Bony is arguably one of the best strikers in the Premier League, possessing a fine first touch and a mammoth frame which allows him to hold the ball up and bring others into play effectively.
Stoke – with all their dazzling midfield play and silky skills – lack a player who can bring the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan into play in the latter third of the field.
The Ivorian will do just that and more.
Bolstered Options
Stoke lack a genuine out-and-out forward, hence their relatively poor scoring record from the previous season and at the start of this one too.
Mame Biram Diouf looks about as comfortable in front of goal as John Terry stood next to Wayne Bridge; Jonathan Walters – despite being a workhorse – cannot provide 20 goals a season; and Peter Crouch very rarely makes an appearance in the league these days, acting as more of a League Cup robot-dancing gimmick.
Bony is just the man they lack up-front and will add a cutting edge to Stoke’s forward line.