Manchester City have shock £18m bid for ex-Manchester United defender rejected

West Bromwich Albion have rejected Manchester City’s shock bid for captain Jonny Evans, reports The Daily Telegraph. 

Pep Guardiola wants to sign a fourth centre back before the end of the transfer window and has earmarked Evans as a top transfer target.

City have already spent in excess of £200m this summer but Guardiola still hasn’t managed to address the squad’s problem at the heart of the defence.

Eliaquim Mangala and Jason Denayer have both been deemed surplus to requirements and now Guardiola has made a shock move for former Manchester United defender Evans.

The Northern Ireland international spent nine years at United before joining West Brom in 2015 and has only just been made club captain in a bid to keep the 29-year-old at the Hawthorns.

Evans was heavily linked with a move away at the start of the summer and now it has emerged West Brom have rejected an £18m bid from City for his services.

The Baggies were demanding £20m when Arsenal expressed an interest 12 months ago, which suggests City aren’t fair away from securing his services, although no agreement has yet been reached.

In the last three Premier League campaigns, only two players have won possession in the defensive third more times than Evans (267).