Manchester City chiefs hold transfer meeting before win over Newcastle as club track Fred and Jonny Evans

  • Pep Guardiola wants to sign a centre back this month with Jonny Evans in frame
  • Fred, Inigo Martinez and Jean-Michael Seri are also on Guardiola's wish-list
  • Man City defeated Newcastle 3-1 to restore their 12-point lead over United 

Manchester City chiefs held a transfer meeting hours before Saturday's victory over Newcastle as they look to close in on a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, sporting director Txiki Begirisatin and chief executive Ferran Soriano discussed targets, including West Brom's Jonny Evans.

There remain obstacles to overcome in the hunt for Evans, who is valued in the region of £20million, with Pep Guardiola hopeful of adding a new central defender this month.

Jonny Evans is being closely monitored by Manchester City as Pep Guardiola wants a defender

Jonny Evans is being closely monitored by Manchester City as Pep Guardiola wants a defender

Fred is attracting interest from the blue half of Manchester with a deal close to completion

Fred is attracting interest from the blue half of Manchester with a deal close to completion

City would be willing to move to other targets, which are thought to include Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez, should outstanding matters with the Evans talks prove unresolvable.


Sportsmail understands a move for the £40m-rated Fred is at a more advanced stage and it is believed a delegation from Shakhtar were in Manchester earlier in the week.

Premier League leaders City — 10 wins away from clinching the title — are working on a deal which would see the Brazil international join in the summer. The 24-year-old's stock is likely to continue to rise with the Champions League knockout stages and a World Cup in the coming months.

Scouts have also been tracking Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri as Guardiola gets set to bolster his options, with Yaya Toure's eight-year stay expected to end.

Guardiola needs 30 more points to guarantee the Premier League crown and warned their rivals that City have proven their strong mentality over setbacks.

Watford comfortably dispensed of Watford days after dropping points at Crystal Palace and made sure there was no slip up against Newcastle following last weekend's defeat by Liverpool.

'The reaction against Watford was amazing and today the same,' Guardiola said.

'They don't have to convince me how incredible the players we have are. When you lose, because the opponents are good as well, we stand up, shake hands, congratulate Jurgen Klopp and his team and move forward.

'We need those kind of results to realise what we have done but the way we ran, the way we fight, the way we play against a team that defended 10-11 players in the box, it was so complicated, but that's why it's so good.

'Always after the defeat against Liverpool, you have a little bit of doubts how you would react, what happened if you went two games in a row not winning? That's why it was so important.' 

Guardiola wants to bolster his squad despite City still competing on all four fronts this season

Guardiola wants to bolster his squad despite City still competing on all four fronts this season