Could Manchester City call time early on Wilfried Bony’s spell at the Etihad?

Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony just can’t find his Swansea form, and it could cost him when the January transfer window opens.

Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony has endured a difficult time at the Etihad Stadium since his £25M move from Swansea City, with injuries and a lack of goals summing up his spell in the North-West. The Ivorian international could well be one the first out of the door in the January transfer window, 12 months after making the surprise switch from the Liberty Stadium, and it seems misfortune is costing Bony greatly.

Wilfried struggling to replicate his Swansea form

The 26-year-old has scored just four goals in 20 Premier League games for Manchester City, and has struggled with injuries throughout. Bony hasn’t been afforded a run of games with the Sky Blues due to first-choice striker Sergio Aguero leading the line, but in the chances the Ivorian has been afforded he just hasn’t impressed.

City are a mix of pace, power and technical ability, but Bony surprisingly doesn’t fit in. He looks cumbersome in possession and reacts too slowly to play going on around him. The 26-year-old doesn’t have the vision of his world-class teammates, and his finishing has been worrying. If Bony can’t score goals, he’s little use to Manchester City in place of Aguero, let alone if he‘s not fit to play on occasion.

Manchester City pinned a lot of faith on the former Swansea City striker, selling Edin Dzeko, Steven Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo, but the decision hasn’t paid off just yet. With the Sky Blues looking on course to win the Premier League title, they need to have strength in depth in all positions, and with Aguero also a fitness risk, City must have a second striker waiting in the wings to provide goals.

Failure to adequately replace Sergio Aguero

Bony’s record in the Premier League for his new club suggests he’s perhaps not the man City thought they have signed, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has a difficult decision to make. If they can’t replace Aguero’s goals, they are putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the squad. Bony looks short of confidence when he does play, but he hasn’t take his chance to shine during the Argentine’s absence this season.

Sergio Aguero is hoping to be back after the international break, while Bony is currently injured and won’t be representing his country. He needs to be ready when called upon, but could find himself further down the pecking order if Pellegrini can’t trust upon him, with the promising Kelechi Iheanacho having shone in a limited amount of appearances. So could Manchester City call time on Wilfried Bony if he fails to improve?