After a seventh place finish in the previous season, Ronald Koeman, the Everton manager does not want to waste any time this summer and wants to get deals done for his top transfer targets quickly. While they have already signed Jordan Pickford, reports now claim that Everton are one of the many clubs that are interested in Manchester City outcast Wilfried Bony.
The former Swansea City star came through the ranks of Sparta Prague and Vitesse before moving to England. His sensational stint at the Liberty Stadium where he scored 26 goals in 54 appearances earned him a place in Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City side in 2015. However, he could only muster six goals, playing in 36 games for the club, before he was loaned off to Stoke City by new manager Pep Guardiola.
Hit by injuries and lack of form, he has managed just 11 appearances at the Bet365 stadium last season in all competitions and has just two goals to show for his efforts. He is now not in the plans of the Spanish manager at the Etihad and is one of the many players that are up for sale this summer.
Everton want him as a probable replacement for their outgoing Belgian star Romelu Lukaku. The former Chelsea star was the top goals scorer for the Merseyside outfit last season but is set to leave the club with a void to fill this summer and Bony’s Premier League experience could make him a decent candidate for this job.
A sensational finisher, Bony has an exemplary vision for a centre-forward. He has a high key pass ratio and is a player hard to mark in the final third. He can score goals from different angles and different ranges and has mesmerising skills that make him a nightmare for defenders.
The last couple of seasons have not been great for him but moving to the Goodison Park might give him the right push needed to get his career back on track. At 28, he is in his prime as a footballer and is a more than a decent option for Everton, who are also looking at Sandro Ramirez from Malaga as a possible addition.
The money they get for Lukaku’s sale will allow them to sign Ramirez and Bony and the Ivory Coast international can act as a mentor to the young Spaniard who will play his first season in England. Koeman needs a strong attacking lineup to help Everton into a place in Europe next season and it will be important for him to make sure that he finds the right balance in attack. Spending on Bony and Ramirez might solve this problem once and for all.
