Jonny Evans insists Manchester City's bid did not come as a distraction: 'I'm just someone in the middle with two clubs after me'

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After spending deadline day on standby, Jonny Evans is determined to show Manchester City exactly what they missed out on and insists the collapse of that move has given him extra motivation.

The 29-year-old centre back could have been lining up against Liverpool as City’s new £30million signing this Saturday but will instead be in Brighton with West Bromwich Albion.

City lodged their first bid of £18m for Evans a month ago but no move materialised, despite ongoing talks as the deadline approached.

Jonny Evans is determined to show Manchester City exactly what they missed out on

‘I don’t make the decisions,’ Evans said. ‘I’m just someone in the middle with two clubs after me.

‘Man City first have to decide do they want you, and your own club have to decide do they sell you. It doesn’t matter what time it gets done in the window.

‘You’ve got to then make your own decision and it never got to that stage.

‘I’ve been there before in transfer windows. The last three transfer windows then the one before that. Man United to West Brom happened quite late on. Then the next year after the Euros there was interest from Arsenal. You just deal with it as a footballer.

‘Surprisingly enough, with speculation, sometimes the press doesn’t always get hold of what goes on. A lot of players go through it.

The 29-year-old scored only his second international goal in 11 years on Monday night

Pep Guardiola's side were widely expected to bring Evans to the Etihad on deadline day

‘Mine was the fact that Man City made a bid a month or so ago. That was out in the press. But leading up to the end of the window, I was calm about everything and I was just trying to get back to be fit, for wherever I ended up so I could be at the top of my game.’

Evans scored only his second goal in international football in 11 years on Monday night as Northern Ireland beat the Czech Republic in their World Cup qualifier.

Asked whether he is currently playing the best football of his career, Evans answered: ‘Probably. I still think I can push that on. That’s my aim, that’s my drive.

‘The most important thing is I’m pleased none of this speculation has affected me. It’s made me more determined than ever to try to be a better player. I’m happy.’

This summer wasn’t easy on Evans’ family, who were unsure whether they would have to up sticks and move to Manchester, or London if Arsenal re-joined the race.

‘Before you have a family and you’re settled, you don’t think about things like that,’ Evans said. ‘As a young footballer, you’d go anywhere. It’s harder on your family than it is yourself.’