Since one bustling Ivorian has already made his name at the Etihad Stadium in recent years, there is no reason to suggest that Wilfried Bony can’t push on and become as popular as Yaya Toure, should his reported £30 million move to Manchester United push through.
The big-man certainly has his options open this January, as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are also said to be keen on landing Bony’s signature as the transfer window plays out.
Whilst such a move would seemingly signal heartbreak for the Liberty Stadium faithful, who have overseen their marquee centre-forward blossom in the Premier League with Swansea since his arrival in 2013, there are several other candidates available for Garry Monk should he eventually lose his main man.
With the January transfer window now upon us, here are FIVE noteworthy strikers who could potentially fill the void left by Wilfired Bony at Swansea:
Loic Remy
While the Frenchman may not pack quite the same punch as Bony in terms of physicality and stature, Loic Remy nevertheless deserves credit for what he can bring to the table.
Scoring goals may be his most important asset, with an impressive 14 recorded for Newcastle United last season, but Remy is also famed for his quick turn of pace and intelligent reading of the game. The Chelsea no. 18 has something very Henry-esque about his style, and whilst he is certainly not at the Arsenal legend’s level quite yet, under the right set-up Remy could definitely thrive.
Although the tricky striker seemingly wanted to make a name for himself at Stamford Bridge, if Bony were to make the move to West London, Remy’s game time would suffer even more. For that reason, a player + cash deal could be a decent move for the Swans, and for Loic Remy himself.
Lima
Despite being a grand 31-years-old, Benfica’s Lima has proved to be a handful of a striker, both domestically in the Primeira Liga and in the Europa League for several consecutive seasons.
The uncapped Brazilian may not have made any waves on the international scene, but the powerful no. 11 has become a firm fan favourite at the Estadio da Luz with over 50 goals scored in the past two seasons. Lima has the strength and reliability in front of goal, and whilst his days of being a quick mover may have passed him by now, the Brazilian hit-man could still be a force in the Premier League.
Although the South American forward could certainly prove an asset at the Liberty Stadium, the apparent lack of sensation and excitement that would arrive upon him signing on the dotted line could see this potential deal become a non-starter. Lima’s goal stats remain undeniably impressive however.
Seydou Doumbia
Another powerful Ivorian striker who could fill the void left at Swansea, Seydou Doumbia marks a transfer target who is similar to Wilfried Bony in terms of what assets he brings to the game.
The CSKA no. 88 has already given the Premier League reason to remember his name after his Champions League destruction of Manchester City back in November 2014. He has played countless games for both club and country, and with his powerful stature mixed with a calm composure when under pressure, the Ivorian forward’s achievements come as no surprise.
Although Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool are said to also be interested in landing Doumbia, if the Swans take home the reported £30 million price tag that they have set for Wilfried Bony, Garry Monk could certainly let the money do the talking in his quest to secure a replacement at the Liberty Stadium.
Emmanuel Emenike
Arriving as the undisputedly greatest ‘beast’ on this list, Emmanuel Emenike could offer Swansea the perfect solution should they fail to keep hold of Bony this January.
Whilst he doesn’t quite share the same technical ability with the ball and composure in front of goal, Fenerbahce’s bustling forward still has several essential qualities to make it in the Premier League. Emenike is undeniably strong, hungry for goals and worthy enough to test even the best defenders in England. He may not be quite as prolific as some other striker candidates, but the 27-year-old could nonetheless still do a great job for Monk this season.
Tottenham Hotspur have already expressed an interest in signing the Nigerian hitman, but as the apparent dismissal of their reported £8 million bid highlights, Swansea won’t be able to pick up Emmanuel Emenike on the cheap.
Jackson Martinez
The potential signing of Porto and Colombia hot-shot, Jackson Martinez, would certainly prove to be a landmark deal should the Swans pull it off.
The fiery 28-year-old may have already made a name for himself prior to the 2014 World Cup last summer, but even when operating from the bench in Brazil, Jackson Martinez proved to be a deadly finisher with a cool nature on the ball. This is just the kind of player Swansea require in the potential absence of Wilfried Bony.
Both Marvin Emnes and Bafetimbi Gomis would certainly benefit from playing alongside the Colombian star, but as his asking price will likely be a bit steep with several of Europe’s big-boys also in the hunt to land his signature, Swansea could face stiff competition in the quest to tie down Jackson Martinez.