Referee Pedro Proenca of Portugal sends off Cameroon's Alexandre Song for a challenge on Croatia's Mario Mandzukic during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match at the Amazonia arena in Manaus June 18, 2014.
Referee Pedro Proenca of Portugal sends off Cameroon's Alexandre Song for a challenge on Croatia's Mario Mandzukic during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match at the Amazonia arena in Manaus June 18, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

With the Africa Cup of Nations just 10 days away and the more prominent African players in the Premier League flying off to participate, the business regarding their transfers has already started. Not being picked for the national side Alex Song has announced his retirement. While it is just a matter of time that Wilfred Bony sign for the defending champions Manchester City.

Alexander Song has been an unsettled club player all his life. He started his youth career in the French Ligue 1 side Bastia. Soon he was loaned to Arsenal, where he was transferred permanently. While at Arsenal he was loaned to Charlton Athletic and subsequently sold off to Barcelona. He has not been able to settle at Barcelona and has now returned to the Premier League on loan at West Ham United with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Song has played 47 matches for his national side but has not scored a single goal. Having made his debut at the tender age of 17 he has represented his national side in the 2008 and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He also participated in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was not picked for this year's Africa Cup of Nations and he has responded by promptly announcing his international retirement at the age of 27. "My love for my country will never change. I want to take time to focus purely on domestic football and start to rebuild my career at West Ham United", Song said while announcing his retirement.

Manchester City do not have a fit striker in their squad at the present moment. This has pushed their hand in holding advanced talks with Swansea City for their Ivory Coast striker Wilfred Bony. Bony was the top scorer in the Premier League with 20 goals in the calendar year 2014. He has already left for Africa prompting many to speculate that he might have played his last game for the Swans. The transfer fee being sought by the Welsh club is more than £30M.

To contact the author of this article email a.biswas@IBTimes.com.au

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