Wilfried Bony

Liverpool are preparing an £18m bid for Swansea defender Wilfried Bony as they look to shore up their attack for next season, according to the Metro.

Brendan Rodgers' side have secured qualification into the Champions League for next season and the former Swansea manager is looking to raid his former club to spruce up his attacking options to challenge on all fronts next season.

The northern Irishman has been promised significant funds for the summer with a defender and midfielder high on his list.

However, Rodgers is also looking to add a striker of a different mould to the pacy duo of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

Bony's ability to hold up the ball high up the pitch will provide a good focal point for the pair, who can use the striker as a pivot and make runs beyond him in the attacking third.

Liverpool will be heavily contested by Arsenal for Bony's signature, with the Gunners also in the market for a striker to add cover for Olivier Giroud.

Bony has scored 25 goals this season and will be a good signing for any club in the top four in their quest to progress in the Champions League. The bid is likely to be made before the World Cup begins next month, but is unlikely to be concluded given that Bony will be travelling with the Ivory Coast team to Brazil.

Meanwhile, defender Daniel Agger may be on his way out of the club this summer with the Dane admitting that Rodgers does not regard him highly.

When asked about his future at Anfield, he said, "I don't know. That's up to the manager. I can't go and put myself on the team sheet. It definitely wasn't great to be left out, but I don't make the decisions. I think it is because the manager doesn't think that I'm good enough."

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