Premier League title favourites Manchester City have had a bid of around £18million rejected for West Brom centre-back Jonny Evans. For me, it seems like a strange move for the Citizens to make at this moment in time.
The Baggies boss Tony Pulis has stated that the Midlands club do not need to sell Evans. However, he also stated that the club would have to consider their options if another big money offer came in for the Northern Irish international.
Evans is a Manchester United reject
Jonny Evans is a decent defender in my book. He is a no-nonsense sort of defender that fits in well at a club in the middle of the table. However, he is also a player that came through the youth system at City’s bitter-rivals Manchester United.
In fact, Evans spent eight years at Old Trafford and made 198 appearances. The defender also won three Premier League titles with the Red Devils.
However, there was always a feeling that during Evans United career that he was not quite good enough for a big club. He was just not quite up to the standard needed at United at the time. A move to a smaller club has helped him enjoy a decent career since leaving the Red Devils.
It seems a move back to Manchester could very well be on, as Evans is now evens to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Manchester City needs more centre-backs
Manchester City were at times awful in defence last season. Thankfully, for the Citizens sake, they had fantastic attacking players to make up the shortfall from their calamitous defending.
However, City captain Vincent Kompany is one of the best centre-backs the Premier League has ever seen. The Belgium international has endured a nightmare couple of campaigns through injury though.
When Kompany returned to the starting line-up at the end of the campaign, the Citizens looked far more solid at the back. The Belgian started alongside John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi in the opening weekend 2-0 win at Brighton.
Kompany seems to exude calm and it spreads to his fellow defenders. Both Stones and Otamendi have endured shaky City careers so far. Beyond the trio, City do not really have great centre-back cover, especially as City boss Pep Guardiola looks set to play with three at the back this season.
Eliaquim Mangala was the defensive cover on the bench at Brighton. However, the French defender’s future at the club is in doubt after spending last season on loan at Valencia.
Guardiola needs to bring in another centre-back if he is to persist with a three-man defence. An injury to any of the current first-choice defenders would maybe lead to a change of formation for the Citizens.
A last big move for Evans
It is unclear whether Jonny Evans fancies a move to Manchester City. There are many factors to consider, including his links to United. Then there is the matter of whether he would play much first-team football this season.
However, at 29 years of age, the defender is unlikely to get another chance to move to a club that can challenge for big honours. Evans could easily stay at West Brom, pick up his wages and not really go anywhere with the Baggies.
At City, Evans would most likely get the chance to play in massive games, challenge for big trophies, even if he is not a first-team regular, although that would have shades of his United career.
It seems that Manchester City boss Guardiola is not finished in the transfer market this summer. For me, though a move for Jonny Evans would be the strangest of the summer transfer window so far.
Will Manchester City sign Jonny Evans this summer?
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