Manchester City want 'Mr Dependable' Jonny Evans, the perfect player to tutor John Stones... but will Man United connection be a problem?

  • Manchester City have made an £18million bid to sign West Brom's Jonny Evans 
  • City are keen to add a defender like Evans who can be heavily relied upon 
  • But Tony Pulis would be loathe to lose one of his most important leaders 
  • There is still shock at Manchester United that they let the defender leave
  • The question is whether he will be tempted by the promise of titles and medals 

It is a long and complicated road which has led Manchester City to Jonny Evans.

Long before the summer started, defence was at the top of Pep Guardiola’s extensive shopping list. While full-backs (as we have seen) were the priority, an experienced centre-half was not far behind.

The Catalan is wary of the Vincent Kompany's record with injury and is unable to rely on him for a full season. John Stones, despite the staggering fee, is still young and needs an experienced head at the side of him. 

Evans missed the  win over Bournemouth through injury and is set to be ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Burnley

Manchester City are keen to add West Brom defender Jonny Evans (left) to their side

Evans began his professional football career with City's rivals Manchester United

Evans began his professional football career with City's rivals Manchester United

EVANS' CAREER CV 

2006-2015: Manchester United

---- 2006: Royal Antwerp (loan)

---- 2006-07: Sunderland (loan)

---- 2008: Sunderland (loan)

2015-: West Brom

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Should Nicolas Otamendi also succumb to injury, Eliaquim Mangala – who is surplus to requirements – was not viewed as a capable stand-in. And so the hunt began. Virgil van Dijk and Leonardo Bonnuci were the early targets, but for various reasons, neither ended up putting pen to paper in Manchester.


As an interesting aside, Dani Alves shock decision to turn his back on City and head to Paris Saint-Germain had the knock-on effect that City were backed into a corner with regards to full-backs. 

Daniel Levy, the shrewdest of operators, took notice. The price for Kyle Walker went up, as did the fee for Benjamin Mendy. Despite their riches, Financial Fair Play – with City on UEFA's watchlist – is a consideration. With moves for Kylian MBappe and Alexis Sanchez ongoing, a defender could not be a splurge signing.

There is an awareness that  Vincent Kompany (right) cannot be relied upon all season

There is an awareness that Vincent Kompany (right) cannot be relied upon all season

Homegrown rules also demand attention, and so Etihad officials were left with the following criteria. The central defender that they are still without, with the season under way, needs to be relatively inexpensive, British and dependable. 

Step forward Evans. There was genuine shock at Carrington when Louis van Gaal sanctioned his £8m departure – and not just because he is a likeable figure who came through the ranks.

While he has no standout feature – he is not explosive off the mark or built like a brick outhouse, Evans was Mr Dependable. Strong, quick enough, good in the air and a fine communicator. 

Some at Manchester United are still surprised Louis van Gaal sanctioned Evans's departure

Some at Manchester United are still surprised Louis van Gaal sanctioned Evans's departure

The experienced defender is regarded as someone who sets standards off the pitch

The experienced defender is regarded as someone who sets standards off the pitch

He is also someone who sets the standard with his behaviour off the field. At 29, he has seen it and done it, but is not past his best. He can mentor Stones and is capable of stepping in for Kompany or Otamendi. 

But City will face a fight, not least from Tony Pulis. In Hong Kong, ahead of the Premier League’s summer tournament, the Baggies manager was joined at a press conference by Evans and spoke in glowing terms of why he made the defender his captain. 

His main points were that Evans could be relied upon to set the example. He also said that he needs a captain who is not afraid of letting him know if the squad have any issues they want to get out into the open. Sat to Pulis’s right, Evans interrupted at that point. ‘I’ve already had a few requests,’ he joked.

Tony Pulis (right) outlined why Evans would be his captain at a pre-season press conference

Tony Pulis (right) outlined why Evans would be his captain at a pre-season press conference

Evans is Pulis’s type of player. More than that, he is Pulis’s type of personality. City’s bid, of £18m, is nowhere near enough to cover the headache that losing Evans would cause. 

There are less than two weeks remaining until the closure of the window. Pulis is still expecting to do the bulk of his business between now and the end of the month. He can do without having to find a new skipper. 

The Baggies are keen on adding Ben Gibson to their ranks and are looking to strengthen their defence, not weaken it.

Losing Evans would cause a significant headache for Pulis at this stage of the transfer window

Losing Evans would cause a significant headache for Pulis at this stage of the transfer window

Then there is Evans’ United past, which should not be underestimated. Should a move go through, it remains to see how fans of his former club would react. Some have still not forgiven Peter Schmeichel, arguably the greatest goalkeeper in United’s history, because he turned out for City at the fag end of his career.

Would Evans be troubled by this? It is a question only he can answer. 

City would be able to at least double his wages. He would go from a club where avoiding relegation is an achievement to one where only the title will do. 

There will be no Champions League nights at The Hawthorns, but equally there would be no sitting on the bench. At 29, how much value does Evans put on being a focal point, a leader?

We may soon find out. 

Evans will know that he is more likely to be a champion again at a club like Manchester City

Evans will know that he is more likely to be a champion again at a club like Manchester City

But we are yet to find out whether he'd be willing to sign for the Etihad Stadium club

But we are yet to find out whether he'd be willing to sign for the Etihad Stadium club