Chelsea target the new Didier Drogba

Labelled the heir to Didier Drogba's throne as Ivory Coast's goal king, so it makes sense that Chelsea should be the favourites to sign Wilfried Bony. talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight has more on the 23-year-old striker...

Name: Wilfried Bony
Date of birth: 10 December 1988
Born: Bingerville, Ivory Coast
Club: Vitesse Arnhem
Position: Striker
International: 13 Ivory Coast caps

What's the latest?
Neither Fernando Torres nor Daniel Sturridge have convinced Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo that the club are strong enough up front and now the Blues are seen as favourites to land Vitesse Arnhem's Wilfried Bony. As the striker's contract in the Netherlands runs until June 2015, the Blues may have to pay considerably more than the £3.5m Vitesse paid Sparta Prague in 2011.

Did you know?
1) Playing through the middle, Bony is a lethal finisher using his strength and incredible close control to bring team-mates into play, assisting as well as scoring, with his goals ranging from the spectacular to a typical poacher's finish.

2) While playing for his first club, Issia Wazi in his home country, Bony headed to Liverpool for a trial, but failed to make the grade on Merseyside and eventually ended up at Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic in 2008. Initially with the reserves, he did not play for the first team until the following year.

3) After starring in Sparta's 2009/10 league winning season, Vitesse snapped the powerful young striker up for £3.5m in the 2011 winter transfer window.

4) His Eredivisie debut – a 2-0 home win against De Graafschap – also saw him score his first goal for the club (see video evidence below) and this season he has scored 11 goals in his last eight league games (correct as of 09/11/12).

5) To ward off interest from the Czech FA, who were unsurprisingly keen to see him represent them at international level, Ivory Coast's authorities called him up for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier Burundi in October 2010. His first goal for his country came in June the following year in the 6-2 thrashing of Benin in a match that saw his hero, Didier Drogba, score twice.

What is being said?
He says:
“The club knows that I am open to a departure, but there must be serious interest for me.”

They say:
“An excellent footballer. A smart player, but also without possession.” Netherlands legend and Heerenveen manager Marco van Basten

Chelsea need a player like him at the moment. Torres is always moving and works hard, but he is not strong enough to lead the line. I'm sorry for Torres, but that's my personal opinion. Bony has so much quality. It's incredible how strong he is and he's excellent on the ball, too. I can understand why he has been linked with Chelsea and other clubs.” Vitesse defender Tomas Kalas, on loan from Chelsea

Video evidence:

Is Bony the right fit for Chelsea?