If this was any other club in the Premier League that had just lost their star striker who had scored 9 goals this season (representing 34% of all of Swansea’s league goals), the supporters would be in an uproar. But while Swansea City supporters are sad to see Wilfried Bony officially join Manchester City, the realization is that you’re not going to be able to find a better piece of business in all of world football.
Just eighteen months after joining Swansea from Vitesse Arnheim for £12.5million, Manchester City have paid Swansea £25million in cash (with an opportunity to accrue an additional £3million in performance-based bonuses raising the total to £28m). For any Premier League club, it’s a deal that’s too good to pass up.
With the deal officially completed, there’s no desperation at Swansea City. There will be no protests from supporters if the club doesn’t go out and spend the money in the January transfer window, and there’s a positive feeling among supporters that the players who are in the squad will step up to take over the mantle of scoring goals for the team.
Bafetimbi Gomis has been handed the opportunity to take over from where Bony left off, and has marked his last two appearances with 2 goals as well as a header that ricocheted off Mark Noble to hand the Swans a deserved draw against West Ham. Given the confidence of scoring those goals, as well as some much-needed composure in front of goal, Gomis should be able to pick up where Bony left off.
Flying under the radar, Swansea signed Portuguese striker Nelson Oliveira on loan from Benfica in late December. The 23-year-old striker made his debut for Swansea as a sub against West Ham United, and will give Gomis competition for the starting striker position.
Plus there’s the threat from Swansea’s midfield where Gylfi Sigurdsson, Marvin Emnes, Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer can step up.
But the player I’m most excited about at Swansea City is Mo Barrow. The 22-year-old was signed from second division Swedish side Östersunds FK in August for £1.5million. While it represents another bargain in the transfer market, it’s the player’s prowess on the field that is most impressive. His pace is explosive, as we saw against Arsenal when he split open the Gunners midfield that resulted in a goal from a free kick. But it’s his dribbling that is the most extraordinary. Other than Eden Hazard and a small number of other players, you don’t see a lot of footballers dribbling in the Premier League anymore.
So far, Barrow has played a key role on both wings after coming on as a substitute, but the talented footballer could be a force to be reckoned with if played in the striker position.
Swansea has plenty of options to consider to replace Bony. Plus, they have cash available to strengthen the team with another striker (for depth) and a full back (to give Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor competition for their places).
The departure of Bony to Manchester City is just another part of Swansea’s evolution of doing sound business and using the money earned to invest wisely in the club. Bony will be missed, but Swansea will move on.
