City’s £25m Evans swoop
MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola is closing in on a shock £25m deal for West Brom’s Jonny Evans.
Guardiola has seen an initial £18m bid turned down but is confident of landing the Northern Ireland defender with an improved offer.
The Spanish boss is keen to add defensive cover to his squad and has made no secret of his desire to land a centre-back.
French outcast Eliaquim Mangala has been told he is surplus to requirements and is closing in on a move to Inter Milan.
Guardiola has doubts over Vincent Kompany staying fit all season and wants an extra body.
He wants the option of playing three at the back this season and has identified Evans as
one potential answer. The Baggies have rejected two bids from Leicester for Evans this summer before rebuffing City’s approach.
Baggies boss Tony Pulis has made Evans, 29, his club captain following Darren Fletcher’s departure to Stoke.
West Brom new boy Gareth Barry plans to keep rolling back the years.
The 36-year-old has clocked up 628 Premier League games and is just five short of beating Ryan Giggs’ appearance record.
Barry (right) said: “Age means nothing to me. It’s a huge target and I’ve been edging closer and closer.
“But my decision to come to Albion hasn’t been based on that. I’m sure I could have scrambled over the line at Everton.”