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Transfers
Done Deal: Swansea City confirm the return of Wilfried Bony from Manchester City
After shocking almost everyone that follows football by securing the signing of Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches for the season, Swansea City followed it with another last-gasp deadline day arrival.
There will be a more familiar face coming in to the Liberty Stadium though as Wilfried Bony has agreed a deal to return to the Swans, acting as a like-for-like replacement for Fernando Llorente.
Who is Wilfried Bony?
Swansea City fans won’t need much of an introduction to their ‘new’ signing following his two-year spell in Wales between 2013 and 2015, becoming a cult hero and spear-heading the attack superbly.
The Ivorian earnt himself a switch to the Premier League after an impressive time at Dutch side Vitesse, getting a hefty tally of 53 goals in 73 matches, and he continued this form for Swansea.
His physical presence in and around the box, allied with his desire to win the ball, made quite the impression in England and he found the net 35 times in 70 games to earn a big move to Manchester.
Yet this is where it all began to fall apart, struggling to dislodge the likes of Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko from Manuel Pellegrini’s starting eleven and he suffered from a huge loss of confidence.
His torrid time was compounded after being told by incoming manager Pep Guardiola that he’s surplus to requirements at the Etihad, a decision which saw him have an equally unsuccessful spell at Stoke City last season, and Swansea fans will be hoping that he can revive his career once again at the club.
What is the deal?
According to Swansea City’s Bony will re-join the Swans on a two-year deal – with an option for a third – for a fee the believe to be £12 million, with a move subject to international clearance.
Where would the Ivorian fit in at the Liberty?
With Fernando Llorente leaving Swansea on transfer deadline day the arrival of Bony will simply prove to be a direct replacement as Paul Clement looks to keep a target-man as an option in his current squad.
There’s little doubt that he’ll be used in the number nine role that he undertook during his opening spell at the club, with fellow new summer signing Tammy Abraham potentially taking a role just behind him.
This would ensure that there’s a potentially potent combination of pace and power in Swansea’s attacking play, and the Ivorian will be looking to pick up where Llorente’s 15-goal campaign left off.
It seems like it’s been a while since Swansea had such exciting options in the opposition half of the field, and Clement’s side are arguably perfectly set to drag themselves far away from a relegation battle.