Laudrup's main man

Swans boss Michael Laudrup has declared his delight at capturing £12m striker Wilfried Bony from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
The Ivory Coast hit-man finalised a four-year contract on Thursday to end Laudrup's summer search for a top class striker to lead the line in the Barclays Premier League and Europa League.
"Everyone has been talking all summer about strikers,'' explained Laudrup. "Well now it is done.
"It's been difficult because everyone is looking to find someone special to score goals. When you do find them, other clubs want them as well.
"You have only got to look at Bony's record last season (31 goals in 30 league games) to see that he is certainly someone who scores goals.
"It's very simple; the most important thing in football is goals. Yes, you can be very good defensively, but if you don't score goals then you can't win games.
"In many games last season the goals were placed firmly on the shoulders of Michu. And while he did extremely well with 22 goals, you can't put everything on the shoulders of one man, especially when he is not regarded as a centre-forward.
"Hopefully Bony, who is very powerful, will take the pressure off and score some of those goals for us, although I am still looking for everyone in the team to chip in.''
Although Bony's £12m arrival, plus potential add-ons, smashed the club's £5.55m record transfer fee paid to Valencia for Pablo Hernandez last summer, Laudrup is still looking to add another striker to his ranks before the window closes on August 31.
"We are nearly there on bringing players in,'' confirmed Laudrup. "I think we have made some very good signings over the summer, but I am still looking for one more striker who can offer us something different again.
"But Bony's arrival takes the pressure off. Now there is no rush to bring someone else in; it doesn't have to be today or tomorrow.''



Swans chairman Huw Jenkins was also delighted to finally get his man after a long, but patient search.
"We are delighted to sign Bony,'' he said. "Michael Laudrup made his feeling known that he was always after a player to fill that main striker's position.
"With Bony's contribution with Vitesse last season, we hope the move will help him continue that form in front of goal in the Premier League. We hope he will become a vital player for Swansea City in the seasons ahead.
"Finding the right players to bring to Swansea City is vitally important. We want players with their best years ahead of them; players looking to progress and enhance their careers.
"I never thought that Swansea would spend £12m on a player,'' he admitted. "But that's the level we have reached at the moment and the limited amount of options available at the higher end of the market for quality and proven goalscorers.''