Bony linked with move to Russia; Drogba cleared to play for Gala

Cote d’Ivoire and Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony is being strongly linked with a move to the Russian Premier League before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, Sky Sports understands.

Bony, 24, is the top goal-scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie with 18 goals this season, but has — on multiple occasions — insisted that he is looking for pastures new.

The Russian transfer window is open until 27 February, and Bony is reportedly attracting interest from a few unnamed clubs in the Russian Premier League.

A move to Russia seems increasingly likely, but if and only if a club meets the €15 million asking-price for the Cote d’Ivoire international.

Rubin Kazan and Spartak Moscow could certainly use a No. 9 centre-forward, while top-of-the-table CSKA Moscow could do with an insurance policy for Seydou Doumbia.

“I hope to leave this winter. My wishes have not changed,” Bony told Voetbal International.

“Yes, the market in Russia is not open for very much longer, but what can I do?

“I can only work and wait. Work and wait and hope I get my chance.”

Vitesse Arnhem are currently fifth in the Dutch Eredivisie table with 39 points, eight points adrift of league leaders PSV Eindhoven, from 22 matches.

Drogba cleared to play for Gala

Cote d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba has been granted a license to represent his new club Galatasaray following a contract dispute with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua F.C., according to Sky Sports.

Drogba agreed to join the Turkish giants last month, but his former employers Shanghai Shenhua insisted that he was still under contract at Hongkou Stadium.

However, the 34-year-old Ivorian’s representatives claimed that he had the right to seek pastures new because his weekly-wage payments were nonexistent, and FIFA concurred.

“The Single Judge of FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee has authorised Turkish FF to provisionally register Didier Drogba,” read a statement on the FIFA Twitter page.

“The Drogba decision is without prejudice and pending outcome of decision as to the substance of the contractual dispute with former club.”

Drogba, who was welcomed to Turkey by thousands of supporters in Istanbul last week, signed an 18-month deal worth €4 million per season plus another €4 million sign-on fee (per season) with Galatasaray last month.

The former Chelsea talisman is now eligible to feature in the UEFA Champions League for Fatih Terim’s side, who are scheduled to play host to Bundesliga side Schalke 04 at the Türk Telekom Arena next week.