Stars in UAE - Ivory Coast - Wilfried Bony close to joining Al-Arabi

Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony is close to joining Qatari club Al-Arabi on loan.

The 30-year-old has been left out of the Swans' squad for their past two matches as they look to offload their highest earner.

Turkish giants Galatasaray had also been mentioned as possible suitors.

"It's progressing further. I think he might be on a plane to Qatar as we 
speak," Swans boss Graham Potter said after their 3-3 draw with Birmingham.

Signed in a £12m deal from Manchester City in 2017, Bony has played seven games under Graham Potter following 10 months out with a knee injury, scoring once.

But as he is thought to earn around £120,000 a week, Swansea are desperate to get the Ivorian off their wage bill.

Bony is in his second spell at the Welsh club, having originally joined Swansea from Vitesse Arnhem in July 2013 for £12m before being sold to 

Manchester City for £28m in January 2015.