The debate over whether Manchester City has overspent on Wilfried Bony is already raging after the Premier League champion confirmed the signing of the striker from Swansea City in a $48 million deal.
The transfer fee makes Bony the most expensive African player in history while his $175,000 salary package means City is stretching its financial capacity given UEFA's financial fair play requirements. Bony has signed a four-and-a-half year contract at the Etihad Stadium but he could justify the cost of his arrival by mid-May if he scores the goals that help Manuel Pellegrini's side retain the title this season.
The 1-1 draw away at Everton last Saturday was the perfect example of a match where Bony could have made the difference in a match -- and a title race -- that is decided by such fine margins. City cannot afford to rely solely on Sergio Aguero's goals, especially given the Argentine's injury record, while Edin Dzeko has been badly off form this season and Stevan Jovetic has fallen away after a bright start to the campaign.
Chelsea sits two points ahead of City at the Premier League summit, but with 17 games to play the arrival of Bony could be the pivotal point in the season that tips the title back in the Manchester Club's favor. City will, of course, have to wait for Bony to return from the African Cup of Nations with new teammate Yaya Toure, but the club can be confident the 26-year-old will instantly hit his stride up in Manchester.
After all, he needs no time to get used to the Premier League and arrives full of confidence after finishing 2014 as the top scorer in the calendar year with 20 goals. His physicality and finishing in the penalty box mean he can ably lead the line as a lone striker, while he will provide an excellent partner for Aguero if Manuel Pellegrini opts to play with two forwards.
Bony's arrival should take some of the goal-scoring pressure off Aguero while the fact that he is eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League is another bonus as Manchester City prepares for a Round of 16 clash against Barcelona.
"He is very difficult to mark because he is so strong," Pellegrini told the official club website. "He is an intelligent footballer who has skill and power. His goals record has been excellent since he came to England. He adapted very quickly to the game here and I think he will settle in at City quickly. We now have four top-class strikers and I am looking forward to seeing them work together."
There will be a nagging frustration that Bony had a $29 million release clause in his Swansea contract last summer before that was removed when he signed a new deal in November. However, City chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain feel they can make the numbers add up and avoid more sanctions from UEFA after failing to meeting FFP requirements last season.
For a start, Alvaro Negredo is on loan at Valencia and will join the Spanish club in a permanent deal worth $35 million in the summer. The hope will be that Bony can recreate a partnership similar to the electric link-up between Negredo and Aguero in the first half of last season. Jovetic and Dzeko are also expected to depart in the summer, with the Bosnian particularly disappointing having scored just twice in 11 league appearances this season -- a strike rate of just a goal every 267 minutes.
Bony, on the other hand, has scored nine in 20 matches for ninth-placed Swansea this term -- a goal every 145 minutes -- and hits the target with 54 percent of his shots. He can expect to find himself with many more scoring chances in a City shirt and has proven his ruthless eye for goal -- particularly his first-time finishing -- on a regular basis since his $18 million switch to Swansea from Vitesse in 2013.
Bony is not the answer to all of City's issues and the club will be looking to strengthen in the summer, with a central defender and fast attacker the most obvious requirements. But he is an important, if expensive, piece in the puzzle. If his goals help City win the title this season, it will be worth it.
"As a player, it's always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it's a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now -- I'm really proud," Bony told Manchester City's official website on Wednesday. It's a motivation for me to give my maximum to be in that place. City is a big club with great players with a lot of experience. I believe we can do it."
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