Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 6y

Man City renewing bid for West Brom defender Jonny Evans - sources

Manchester City are preparing to make a renewed move for West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans after abandoning attempts to sign Alexis Sanchez, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Premier League leaders, who pulled out of the race to sign the Arsenal forward on Monday due to the cost of the deal, had been keen to sign Evans during the summer transfer window.

But Eliaquim Mangala's refusal to agree to a move to Crystal Palace forced City to abandon their pursuit of Evans, who had been rated at £30 million by West Brom at the time.

Both City and Arsenal are attempting to sign Evans in a bid to boost their defensive options, but sources have told ESPN FC that the 30-year-old, who still lives in the northwest, would prefer to sign for City despite his United connections and the likelihood of playing fewer first-team games at the Etihad than he would with Arsene Wenger's team.

City manager Pep Guardiola, who spoke to chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano on Monday, has reiterated the need for defensive reinforcements due to Vincent Kompany's ongoing injury problems and lack of reliable cover for the club captain.

The knee injury sustained by Fabian Delph during Sunday's 4-3 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield has also exacerbated City's defensive problems, with the club now without a proven left-back following the cruciate ligament injury suffered by Benjamin Mendy earlier this season.

West Brom manager Alan Pardew is understood to have accepted that Northern Ireland international Evans is likely to be sold this month and is prepared to sanction his sale in order to raise funds to reinvest in his squad.

With the team currently languishing in the bottom three of the Premier League and having won just three games all season, Pardew is desperate to add to his squad. Selling Evans is the only viable way to raise the money before the Jan. 31 transfer deadline.

West Brom travel to City in the Premier League that day, but sources have told ESPN FC that a deal for Evans is almost certain to have been struck by then with either City or Arsenal.

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