• Premier League

'Bony destined to sit on bench at City'

ESPN staff
January 26, 2015
Highlights: Manchester City 0-2 Middlesbrough

Wilfried Bony is destined to be on the bench for Manchester City, according to a director at former club Swansea City.

The Ivorian striker became the biggest signing of the current January transfer window when the Premier League champions paid Swansea an initial £25 million for him.

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But John van Zweden feels City bought Bony on the cheap, citing the £27m fee Manchester United agreed for left-back Luke Shaw last summer.

He lamented the loss of their top scorer, particularly as he believes Bony will be a reserve at the Etihad Stadium.

"We will miss the goals from Wilfried Bony a lot," Van Zweden said. "The most frustrating thing is that he will sit on the Manchester City bench.

"Sergio Aguero remains their main striker. I'd personally love Wilfried to be at the heart of a top club like City."

Bony scored 34 goals in 70 games for Swansea and was the Premier League's 20-goal top scorer in the calendar year.

Van Zweden added: "If Manchester United were able to get as much as they did for Luke Shaw, then the money we have paid for Bony, the Premier League's top scorer in 2014, is still on the very low side."

Swansea have lost both games since Bony's departure, conceding eight goals, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Blackburn, while the striker is yet to make his City debut because he is at the African Cup of Nations.

Wilfried Bony moved to Manchester City in a £25 million deal © Getty Images
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