Manchester City have been told Wilfried Bony’s goals could win them the title and that Swansea will not budge on their valuation of the Ivory Coast striker.

Bony’s agent Francis Kacou said on Wednesday that he expects “things will be sorted in the next few days” but the reported £30million deal has been held up with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, who has a track record of being a strong negotiator in such situations, ensuring that his club is fully compensated for the loss of the 26-year-old.

The Ivorian topped the Barclays Premier League scoring charts in 2014 with 20 goals and Swansea manager Garry Monk said Jenkins “is not stupid” in such matters and knows the full worth of Bony, who has scored 34 times in 70 appearances since his club record £12m arrival from Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem in the summer of 2013.

Monk says Bony’s goals could prove the difference in the Premier League champions’ title battle with Chelsea and that scoring pedigree comes at a price.

“I have spoken to the chairman of the club and the situation is ongoing, they are trying to agree fees but they are a little way apart from each other,” Monk said.

“We have had those discussions about what he’s worth but the chairman is not stupid either.

“The club have a good understanding of these matters and ultimately it depends on what the club feels in terms of how much a player is worth.

“I give my input but it’s what the chairman and the board of directors decide is the right valuation and Huw has proven that in the past.”

Asked if he felt Bony was worth more than Romelu Lukaku, who joined Everton from Chelsea in a B£28m deal last summer, Monk said: “The money he went for and then compare the two contributions, it’s pretty much a no-brainer.

“I’ve left the figure to the chairman and the board, but the club is very clear on what he is worth and I am sure they have looked at players who have moved for similar types of money and what their contributions have been at this level and in this league.

“They probably base things on those assumptions, which is quite right, and I can see why the club are holding out for whatever they are holding out for.

“If they haven’t quite met that valuation, and that’s what the situation must be otherwise I am sure the deal would have been done.

“I am sure Huw knows the figure he wants and he will wait for it – and quite rightly so because, whatever figure they have put on it, Bony is worth that 100 per cent.

“He could be the difference in the title race, couldn’t he? That’s what City see in him.

“That’s obviously why their interest is what it is because he’s a goalscorer and gets you goals.”

Monk said he was already planning for Bony’s absence as the player is now away with the Ivory Coast ahead of the African Nations Cup finals.

Back-up striker Bafetimbi Gomis has only started eight games in all competitions since his summer move from Lyon and it has been reported that the 12-times capped France striker has been so dissatisfied with starting opportunities that he is keen to leave Swansea in the January transfer window.

The 29-year-old has been linked with Crystal Palace, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa but Monk said Gomis would not be sold and questioned why he would want to “move sideways or backwards.”

“He is at Swansea City and we want him here,” said Monk.

“I can stop anyone leaving and if the club do not want to sell they will not.

“Talk will always come out but he is a great lad, he works hard and I am looking forward to seeing him in the team and performing well for us.

“Bafe is a different striker to Bony but he is outstanding and I want him to enjoy this period and get some goals.

“You look at the clubs he has been linked with, why would you move sideways or backwards?

“That is not a logical step. He knows he is going to play games for a good team where he has worked hard.

“If it was a bigger club with Champions League football you can understand it but some of the teams linked to him are down near the bottom of the league.

“He has terrific pedigree, he has scored in the Champions League, he scored 20-plus goals over a number of seasons.

“He is a class striker and now he is our main striker.”