Saturday 18 October 2014 13:47, UK
Swansea City are eager to discuss fresh terms with Wilfried Bony, helping them to curb incessant transfer rumours.
A release clause in the Ivorian’s current deal has left Swansea vulnerable to a big-money offer.
Plenty of interest has been mooted and, were Bony to hit the Premier League goal trail again, an approach in January would be expected.
I’m not naïve enough to think there aren’t players who want to go to bigger clubs, but I think he likes it here and knows he’s at a good club.
Swansea are, however, looking to extend a deal that is due to run until 2017, remove the problematic clause and tie Bony to a club that he verbally committed his future to over the summer.
Manager Garry Monk said: “I don’t know the inner details. All I can say is that, in terms of selling a player, it will only happen if it was a good deal for Swansea City.
“But Wilf is a player we want to keep and I think (a new contract) is something we’d like to sort out as a club.
“We’ve not had any talks as yet and we’d want to sit down with Wilfried and speak to him and his representatives and see what the situation is.
“He’s a very good professional, one of our best, trains very hard, is very committed and if that situation comes up – which is great for us and a compliment to the club – it will show the question marks over the summer can be put to bed. For him to do that would be a commitment to us and also give us a bit more security.
“I’m not naïve to say he won’t have interest or his agent won’t be pushing again, but the fact the club will be in control, Wilfried would be committed to the club and after that what will be, will be. Ultimately, for a sign of what he wants to do with the club, it’s a good thing.”
Monk insists that Bony has offered no indication to him that he is looking to move on or that his head has been turned by reported interest from afar.
He added: “I listen to players, not agents, and I spoke to Wilfried over the summer. I respect him and I think he respects me.
“Players who are here are here because they’ve shown a certain level of commitment and Wilfried is one of them.
“I’m not naïve enough to think there aren’t players who want to go to bigger clubs, but I think he likes it here and knows he’s at a good club.
“Players like the unique way we play and do things.”
