Salomon Kalou is backing his fellow Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony to be a big success if he completes a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.

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Bony looks to have played his last game for Swansea, with Abu Dhabi-backed City closing in on a Dh168m (£30m) deal for the striker.

The 26-year-old is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning to join his Ivory Coast team-mates for a pre-African Cup of Nations training camp.

And Kalou, who won the Champions League, one Premier League title and four FA Cups with Chelsea, believes Bony has the talent to succeed at the Etihad Stadium.

“I think it will be a benefit to his career, and he can show how good his quality is there,” the 29-year-old Hertha Berlin star told Sport360.

“I certainly think he’s good enough. Playing in the Premier League and scoring the goals he has with Swansea, like the last one against QPR, he showed the ability he has, and I think he can show that at Manchester City.

“It’s easier to play with big players than players who aren’t so good, so I think it will be good for him. He will be a better player there.

“He’s smart and strong, he can hold the ball and shoot with both feet and score goals, so I think that’s a good, typical Premier League striker.”

The Elephants take on Nigeria in a friendly match at Zayed Sports City on Sunday, January 11, and Sweden on Thursday, January 15.

Bony and Kalou are joined in the UAE capital by the likes of Yaya and Kolo Toure, Roma forward Gervinho and PSG full-back Serge Aurier.