Manchester City have agreed a £28million fee for Swansea striker Wilfried Bony, according to widespread reports.
Rumours over the Ivory Coast forward's – currently on international duty at the African Nations Cup – future have been rampant in recent weeks.
The striker has been with the Swansea since arriving from Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem for a club-record £12million in the summer of 2013.
But his fine goalscoring form – netting 25 goals in 48 appearances last season – soon attracted a host of suitors, with City, Arsenal and Liverpool all linked to the 26-year-old.
And, after a lengthy pursuit, it appears the Premier League champions have finally landed their man, with an official announcement of Bony’s Etihad Stadium switch thought to be expected in the early part of next week.
Bony's agent Francis Kacou said on Wednesday that he expected ''things will be sorted in the next few days''.
Meanwhile, Swansea boss Garry Monk said on Thursday that Bony's goals could prove the difference in Man City’s title battle with Chelsea, and that his scoring pedigree comes at a price.
''I have spoken to the chairman of the club [Huw Jenkins] and the situation is ongoing, they are trying to agree fees but they are a little way apart from each other,'' the manager 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 £28million 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.
''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.''
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