Football Johnson decides against signing former Swansea striker Bony
BRISTOL City will bide their time in the market to land a quality forward that can make the difference at the sharp end of the pitch.
The Robins have decided against signing Wilfried Bony and are concentrating their efforts on looking abroad as they bid to find the right forward to replace Benik Afobe, the Bristol Post understands.
City had considered the Ivory Coast international, who is available on a free transfer following his release from Swansea, but the 30-year-old frontman will not be coming to Ashton Gate.
There were concerns regarding Bony’s ability to physically endure a full Championship season, press from the front and adapt to Johnson’s high-energy approach.
Johnson explained just before the international break about his plans to look at a possible free transfer signing, but leading contenders Gary Hooper and Bony have both now been ruled out.
“I don’t know, I’ve got one in mind like I said before but it’s a long way off, it can quickly change but at this point, we’re still looking,” said Johnson after Saturday’s win over Reading, explaining that he would use this break to examine his options.
“I wanted to have a look at it over the international break really. I haven’t felt the need to dive into anything at the moment,” he told us following the 1-1 draw against Brentford.
As we reported earlier in the week, deals for either Bony or Hooper were always ‘unlikely.’
We understand the Robins are looking further afield and are particularly examining forwards in France and Portugal, following the club’s recruitment success with Han-Noah Massengo and in also bringing in Portuguese Under-21 defender Pedro Pereira. Bristol City fans will be hoping that any forward arriving in January does better than Lois Diony who arrived two years ago but failed to settle.
While Famara Diedhiou arrived for a big fee from Angers, the powerful Senegalese striker has still to completely win over some City fans and the Robins are looking to add further quality in the forward positions.
It was hoped Afobe would be the man to do that and hit 20 goals this season until an anterior cruciate ligament injury ended that chance.
The Robins will now look abroad and further utilise carefully cultivated recruitment contacts, such as super-agent Jorge Mendes who the club have spoken to on several occasions across last summer and since.
Wilfried Bony celebrates scoring for Swansea against Wolves