In November 2012, the Agent of Vitesse Arnhem star Wilfried Bony confirmed that Liverpool had held talks with the striker over a possible January transfer. Brendan Rodgers ended up signing Daniel Sturridge instead, and the following summer, Bony joined Swansea. All is not lost, though, as it seems that Liverpool are set to pursue the prolific Ivory Coast international this summer.
In October 2012, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported:
"Liverpool scouts came to watch Bony. They want him".
Soon after, Bony's Agent, Dalimor Traore, confirmed the story when he told Reporters:
"Liverpool are one of the clubs who have been considering him. We have been in talks with them"
Now, according to The Telegraph:
"Rodgers...wants a striker to add competition for Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez. One of those under consideration is Swansea’s Wilfried Bony, who would [cost] £15 million"
Bony is already well-known at Anfield - he came for trial in 2007, but Rafa Benitez decided not to move ahead with a deal. The Ivorian's stats for Swansea in his first season are excellent:
* Overall: 27 goals/6 assists in 50 apps.
* Goal/Assist every 1.5 games.
* League only: 16 goals/4 assists in 27 starts.
* Goal/assist every 1.3 starts.
Bony has basically carried on where he left off in 2012-13, when he proved himself to be a goal-machine for Vitesse Arnhem:
* 31 goals/8 assists in 30 league games.
* Goal every 85 minutes.
* Goal/Assist every 67 minutes.
When asked about Bony's future last week, boss Gary Monk asserted that Swansea are 'not a selling club', but conceded that, ultimately, 'money talks'. He noted:
"It would have to be an astronomical fee for him to leave though. We're not in any debt. We don't need to lose anyone so we're in a strong position."
Monk also provided an insight into why Bony is so highly regarded:
"He [Bony] is a proper professional. He's not the sort of player to take it easy. Every single day he pushes himself and everyone around him. The more players like that you have in your squad, the better you're going to be."
Bony - recently described by Jonathan DeGuzman as 'unplayable' - sounds similar Luis Suarez in his approach to the game: constantly pushing for the best, and never settling for anything but the 110% effort and commitment.
Additionally, Bony - like Suarez - is a man of steel, and is seemingly impervious to injury. Whenever I've watched him play, the Ivorian's amazing body strength is clearly evident, and with Daniel Sturridge susceptible to regular injuries, it would be great to have another solid unit in the team.
A viable option? Is Bony worth £15m?
Author: Jaimie K
In October 2012, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported:
"Liverpool scouts came to watch Bony. They want him".
Soon after, Bony's Agent, Dalimor Traore, confirmed the story when he told Reporters:
"Liverpool are one of the clubs who have been considering him. We have been in talks with them"
Now, according to The Telegraph:
"Rodgers...wants a striker to add competition for Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez. One of those under consideration is Swansea’s Wilfried Bony, who would [cost] £15 million"
Bony is already well-known at Anfield - he came for trial in 2007, but Rafa Benitez decided not to move ahead with a deal. The Ivorian's stats for Swansea in his first season are excellent:
* Overall: 27 goals/6 assists in 50 apps.
* Goal/Assist every 1.5 games.
* League only: 16 goals/4 assists in 27 starts.
* Goal/assist every 1.3 starts.
Bony has basically carried on where he left off in 2012-13, when he proved himself to be a goal-machine for Vitesse Arnhem:
* 31 goals/8 assists in 30 league games.
* Goal every 85 minutes.
* Goal/Assist every 67 minutes.
When asked about Bony's future last week, boss Gary Monk asserted that Swansea are 'not a selling club', but conceded that, ultimately, 'money talks'. He noted:
"It would have to be an astronomical fee for him to leave though. We're not in any debt. We don't need to lose anyone so we're in a strong position."
Monk also provided an insight into why Bony is so highly regarded:
"He [Bony] is a proper professional. He's not the sort of player to take it easy. Every single day he pushes himself and everyone around him. The more players like that you have in your squad, the better you're going to be."
Bony - recently described by Jonathan DeGuzman as 'unplayable' - sounds similar Luis Suarez in his approach to the game: constantly pushing for the best, and never settling for anything but the 110% effort and commitment.
Additionally, Bony - like Suarez - is a man of steel, and is seemingly impervious to injury. Whenever I've watched him play, the Ivorian's amazing body strength is clearly evident, and with Daniel Sturridge susceptible to regular injuries, it would be great to have another solid unit in the team.
A viable option? Is Bony worth £15m?
Author: Jaimie K
I suspect it would take more like 20 million for Swansea to sell, great player though in my opinion, although not sure we would find a place for him
ReplyDeleteTry 25 million lads, worth every penny
ReplyDeleteNo way... he's strong but not agile, the way he shoot is weird. I'd rather develop borini than him
ReplyDeleteYes, Bony would be a great addition, great in the air, physically strong, something we need in certain matches, plus we need four strikers next season.
ReplyDeleteHe'd be a great physical presence in the box. Maybe wouldn't make him my first option, but his stats so make him an attractive option. Let's hope we build in the right way to give a proper go at Champions League. YNWA!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, 27 goals this season suggests he doesn't shoot that weirdly.
ReplyDeleteBony was by far the best striker to play against us this season.
ReplyDeleteWhen exactly will he play? i know we are gonna use a bigger squad next season but will Bony, Suarez or Sturridge be happy with 20 games?
ReplyDeleteIMO he'll wanna start every game and swansea will want top dollar anyway.
15 million? Seriously. We paid 12 million for him.
ReplyDeleteTop player. Would be happy if we bought him, but will he really come knowing he will be behind Suarez and Sturridge?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the lure of CL will bring him here.
I know he had a great first season but I was never convinced about Benteke, don't really know why.
ReplyDeleteThought Michu was going to tear teams apart again this year. bit unlucky with injury though.
If we could get him for £15 million then yea, but I doubt he would be sold for that little.
ReplyDeleteHe's played 50 games for Swansea already??? In which competitions??? That means he must have played pretty much every game they have played this season...I'm fine with signing players like Bony but it does give me a bit of a bad taste in my mouth considering we wasted so much money last summer when these players went for a lot less.
ReplyDeleteConsidering Swansea payed £12m for him last summer I can't see him leaving this summer for £15m. Worth it probably but they will not have to sell so cheaply so soon. Not when you think about the television money this year.
ReplyDeleteArguably the best signing last season, bang for buck anyhow.
ReplyDeleteAt 15 would be good, but as others point out, he's probably gone up a bit - maybe 20M. As far as getting games go, shouldn't be a problem - could rotate with Sturridge, and partner with him in the odd game where Suarez can't play. Definitely the quality needed to compete - all the big boys have quality on the bench, whether that be Bony or Sturridge, and the odd case Saurez, that's what has to be done.
Just struck me.. Wonder what Monk would have said if you'd told him he'd be managing Swansea in the Premier League back in the days he was playing League Two football for them hahaha. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness both those players have had injuries (Especially Michu) and Benteke didn't quite have the same attitude this season once he didn't get the move he wanted in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI do agree though that we need to see more of the player to be sure but I personally like the look of Bony. He doesn't look that agile but has quietly been quite good.
I appreciate that no one else probably gives a fuck, but I remember going to watch them a good few years back.. Amazing how far they've come (and given us our amazing manager along the way).
ReplyDeleteTeams will park the bus and a physical presence in the ox will help there. Not getting lots of crosses in but being able to recieve the ball and not lose it means defenders will have to be occupied by him. That may just give the trickier players more room. Look at one twos that arsenal have done with Giroud using his physicality earlier in the season. As long as you have third man runners that kind of physical presence can help break teams down.
ReplyDeleteI'm a red Jack and I made the same point.
ReplyDelete48 games in the league, two domestic cups and the Europa. 25 goals all comps.
ReplyDeleteVery much agree with this. Sturridge had a series of in juries as well so we need cover there and more games to play. We suffered some fatigue anyway without Europe.
ReplyDeleteI'd be willing to go to £15mil for him, but they'd want more than that. I think there has to be a more cost effective option out there.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching him and up until something like February, he seemed to exclusively score pointless goals. He'd score the 3rd goal in a 3-0 or the consolation in a 4-1 loss. Stuff like that. I think his stats flatter him because of that.
That said, as the season wore on, a larger number of his goals were the first in games or the decisive ones that got him points, which suggests he became more influential as he became familiar with the English game.
The best thing about him is that he would genuinely be a different option to Suarez and Sturridge in a way that Borini probably isn't. Borini is a good player with great movement, but doesn't have the profile to change a game. He could always just come on and perform better than Sturridge or Suarez, but he isn't the type of player to change the way a game is played simply by coming on to the field. Bony's physicality gives you that.
Good option. Too much though, I think.
I was thinking that some team (I think he'd be a great signing for Everton) should take advantage of Michu losing his heat in the transfer market and put a bid in. Last season was his peak value, but he isn't quite as hot right now. Could persuade Swansea to sell, since they seem to want to go back to the more British profile they had under Rodgers and Martinez.
ReplyDeleteAlso, question for JK:
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't get injured, why did he only start 27 league games? Swansea aren't exactly blessed with options up front with Michu injured for most of the season and then they bloody signed N'gog, so they were obviously desperate.
Rodgers wants players with speed. Bony does not fit Rodgers attacking profile. But who knows. He still is a classy finisher though.
ReplyDeleteHe hardly started a game in the first few months, which baffled everyone including bony himself. It was a contributing factor to why the swans fans were getting annoyed with Laudrup. Swansea won't sell for less than £20m, so it's up to Liverpool to decide whether they want to spend that much on what would be essentially a 3rd choice striker
ReplyDeleteWhy do we need competition for SAS? 52 PM goals speaks for itself. Now a plug and play for an injury I can see...or to rest one...but as competition? Does the Telegraph follow the PL?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are joking if you think you can get him for 15m...his stats don't tell the story, no preseason, and unfit and struggling until October...try 25m and then you may be talking...oh, and let us have Joey back too!
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly. Weren't Swansea interested in signing aspas last summer AND this January. So I think aspas + £10m would be enough to convince Swansea. If the £10m isn't enough then we can offer Luis Alberto/ suso on loan as we'll. Surely they would sell if they got £10m+aspas+suso(loan).
ReplyDeleteThere is one problem. Michu has become a sick note which leaves Swansea with Bony being their only reliable striker. For that reason Bony will be sold for more than the reported £15m.
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to spend £20m then IMO we should rather attempt to sign Jay Rodriguez. Whether Southampton will sell him is another story.
Silly season is here!
Rodgers said recently that Borini will be part of the squad next season so if Aspas is not moved on then I cannot see us signing another striker.
ReplyDelete£15 million!!! Hahahaha... we bought him for £12 million.
ReplyDeleteDouble that at least or go home.
Off topic.
ReplyDelete"Together I'm sure we will make history."
Will this be Louis van Gaal's famous last words?
That is exactly the reason why LFC will not be signing Bony.
ReplyDeleteno chance Aspas will be kept
ReplyDeleteThat is why I am implying that we will only sign another striker if Aspas is sold.
ReplyDeleteshop at barca they have a summer sale
ReplyDeleteA very expensive one.
ReplyDeleteworth every penny and more...
ReplyDeleteWe paid £23m for Suarez.
ReplyDeleteBony worth more than that *I think not*
Aspas was Laudrup's main target he had been tracking him for ages and we understood there was some kind of informal agreement. Possibly that is one reason Bren signed him (the Michu effect). He may regret choosing Liverpool as he would have fitted in our team well and played all the time. I think he could still fit in our team well (depending on monks plans) most are not keen.
ReplyDeleteStill we made do when Bony when came up later ;-)
Yes he is worth £15 million. Never gives up and is a goal scorer as well.
ReplyDeleteThing is, he'd be worth 20 as well but it's still a crying shame we didn't snap him up at 12 last summer. In stead we signed Iago Aspas..
ReplyDeleteHow much would Bony have played with Sturridge 29 EPL matches and Suarez 33 Matches. Plus Coutinho and Sterling all being regulars. Bony is worth nowhere near £20m.
ReplyDeleteWould be a solid buy, however I still feel there are other areas in the squad which need improvement first
ReplyDeleteIt seems a lot to me especially as he is unplayable
ReplyDeleteWatch out Moyes! Van Gaal is going for your records!!
ReplyDelete£15 million is a really silly figure in today's market. I think this will start to become more apparent as big players move around this summer. The reality is the Swans stayed in the premier league thanks to Wilf. That reality gave us about £75 milion in tv revenue for the season. If he's still on the squad for the remainder of his contract his goals would be enough to secure us premier league football every year. He's got three years left on his deal and, even if the tv money doesn't keep going up, that represents £225 million which his presence and his goals guarantees. Why would a debt free club with an astute chairman trade that for £15 million?
ReplyDeleteHe is a real goalscorer. Not many of them nowadays. But 3 times out of five, his first touch is poor, i haven't seen any kind of speed to his game and he is not a good and consistent distributer of the ball. Liverpools attacking game is heavily reliant on speed of mind and action. I do not see him fit with that. I am sure he could score goals for any team he played in, but i feel for the prize, even if we could get him for 15 million, he is not worth it. Not for us anyway, but could be for many other teams. Last year Michu was rightly hailed and this year it is Bony. Can we be sure Bony won't have a bad second season or get a lot of injuries just like Michu - i think we can't, especially if signing for Liverpool means less games. Personally i would love him to stay. It would be intriguing to see what Michu and Bony could do together if they both stay fit and both hit top form in the coming season. I am a dane and i have been in love with Michael Laudrup my whole life. He was at his peak when i was a boy and where and still is a national icon - so i am very disappointed that he isn't their manager anymore but the man does have a serious problem with authorities and i understand if they had no other choise... Anyway, i like the swansea-story, the way they have build without a bottomless oilwell of money and always seems to make the right decisions and i would love to see them do well. I think he should stay and Liverpool should look for players who is not centreforwards like Bony but instead multi-functional attacking players like Iago Aspas :D
ReplyDeleteHow much would you give for a new Luis Garcia?
Bony is capable of leading the line for a top cl club. If he comes to Liverpool he will end up challenging for a first 11 place as he is well more than back up? I also think he would relish the opportunity at a top club and like Suarez would grow into it and become even better.
ReplyDeleteOther than Lukaku, Bony is about the most physical striker we encountered and might help against Chelsea, Stoke or other bruising teams. Out with Iago Assgas and in with Bony; Bob's your uncle.
ReplyDeleteThat same question can be asked for any striker next season as well. I'm not sure how you value a striker but considering the cost of players these days I don't think there is much to be said against 20 million for Bony. Or should he just cost less because he's not English?
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers could bring W Bony(25) to club as his plan b in attack.
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers should offer I Aspas and £10M to bring him to the club.
B Rodgers should also bring M Vorm(30) GK for £4-£6M and B Davies(20) LB for £4-£7M a to the club
For 15 mil yes but it would take a fair bit more than that.
ReplyDeleteIn other news... Yaya Toure? What a fud
it was 20m min set by swansea now its 25m and that still won't be enough for him, 15m is rediculous, the author obviously did not do his research
ReplyDeleteYou could say the answer is in your question. So 14 starts? Perhaps more. How many games did Sturridge come on as a sub? How many games did he play injured? How many games did he come off? How many cup games could Bony have played? etc. Rodgers had no faith in Aspas but could have had some in Bony. It's done now so moot but there were potentially plenty of game to play the season just gone.
ReplyDeleteThanks champ.
ReplyDeleteNice to have the Swansea perspective.
Didn't he play 34 league games?
ReplyDeleteI think he wouldne a great buy for us. At the RIGHT price. He's a different type of attacker to Suarez and Sturridge who are are sublime. Bony is more a Drogba type battering ram and I think it would give Brendan an excellent option to bring him off the bench in late second halves. AND he is established and proven in the Premiership. Prefer him to Remy, that's for certain!!
ReplyDeleteThe form of SAS dropped considerably towards the end of the season. We will need someone to do for us what Dzeko did for city when Negredo's form dropped.
ReplyDeleteDid you know Liverpool were REALLY close to signing Laudrop at
ReplyDeleteOne time?? Would've been great!
I would rather have a player that the manager could play in games. Probably a bit wiser to have a playable player. Thats a point, does that mean Bony is an unplayer?
ReplyDeleteHe reminds me of Titi Camara:) I'd love him in the squad!
ReplyDeleteNo idea, guv'. I'm going by the stats in Jaimie's article. 27 starts.
ReplyDelete£15m haha. He was signed for £12.5m... You think a club like swansea who dont need to sell will sell their star player for a £2m profit??
ReplyDeleteDouble what he was bought for to start, and it would probably get accepted at £27.5m.
Top goalscorer in the Premier League from Xmas after he settled in.
Yeh I think Jaimie has taken the whoscored numbers in the summery that are wrong for some reason.
ReplyDeleteBony is not the right type of striker for this Liverpool side. He holds up play and doesn't transition the attacks quickly enough - though his finishing is deadly. He doesn't suit tactically.
ReplyDelete£20 milion is NOT reasonable price to get Wilfred Bony.Too Expensive. I rated Wilfred Bony should be around £15 milion.Swansea City is now try to make tug a war with LFC.
ReplyDeleteVery true!
ReplyDeleteI really thought Bony was coming to Liverpool from Holland last year he would have made an excellent addition i thought so then Aspas {cough}.
ReplyDeleteThe club though more urgently needs to address other areas and to spend 20 million unfortunately is a luxury the club cant afford this season.
Unless of course they sell Suarez.
I wouldn't be too sure. It is not pleasant, but a reality, that once a player's head is turned they can make life pretty difficult for their club - I think you know to what I am referring. Maybe they would let him rot for 15m but if the player has a hissy fit it might not take nearlyas much as you think.
ReplyDeleteI think he would be a great rotation with Sturridge.
Probably. I thought we already had an unplayable striker in Aspas..:-)
ReplyDeleteYep 34 PL games. Had a slight rib injury for our game against CP and was out for 3 PL games at the start of Dec with hamstring (this was a few weeks into him starting playing full PL games whilst still playing Europe - so might have contributed - but we had little choice as Michu was injured by the start of Nov and scarcely played again under Laudrup). Real Bummer for us as we had 9 games that month.
ReplyDelete