Arsenal set to make surprise £30m bid for Premier League striker

Arsenal are reportedly ready to make a surprise £30 million bid for Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony, according to the Daily Star.

The Ivory Coast international is understood to have been told that he can leave the Etihad this summer by Pep Guardiola, and he was left out of the Citizens’ squad for their 3-2 pre-season friendly defeat to the Gunners in Gothenburg on Sunday.

Now Arsene Wenger is being urged to sign the 27-year-old as he continues his search for a forward before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, with Leicester City attacker Jamie Vardy already turning down a move to the Emirates earlier in the summer.

Many believe that the Ivorian is the best striker available on the market at the current time, although he has also been linked with Arsenal’s Premier League rivals, Everton.

Bony has scored 10 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for City since making a £25 million move from Swansea in January 2015.