Wilfried Bony is set to leave Manchester City, with Sky Sports News reporting that he’s at Stoke City’s training ground to complete a deadline day move to Staffordshire. The Ivorian striker is surplus to requirements under Pep Guardiola, after an unsuccessful 18 months in the north-west.
The 27-year-old has been linked with the likes of West Ham United, Everton and Sunderland throughout the window, as well as a big-money move to the Chinese Super League, but it appears he’ll now be pulling on the red-and-white stripes of the Potters after the international break.
The details of the move are as yet unclear, and it could easily be a loan or a purchase by Stoke. The Potters haven’t been overly active in the market so far, with just two major signings: Joe Allen on a permanent deal from Liverpool, as well as Ramadan Sobhi from Egyptian club Al Ahly.
Bony signed for City from Swansea City in the winter transfer window in 2015, and was highly-anticipated after being a stand-out player in South Wales. However, he never really got going at City, and scored just eight goals in 34 games last year, despite the £24 million price-tag.
City have moved for more strikers this summer, in the form of Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras and Nolito (who has been deployed out wide so far but can take a place up-front with ease), shunting Bony to the fringes of the team and allowing him to depart Manchester on deadline day.
