Keeping tabs on which defenders are at Manchester City is a difficult job at the best of times – but the churn shows no signs of abating with further deals for defenders very likely at the Etihad Stadium.
A likely new arrival at City, and one that has raised many an eyebrow, especially the red side of Manchester, is Jonny Evans – the ex United defender currently plying his trade at West Bromwich Albion.
Evans played nearly 200 times for United, but was released for an undisclosed fee (reported to be around £8m) in 2015 to the Baggies – which seemed about the right level of move for a player who was good, but not quite seen as United class. Evans settled in at the Hawthorns, and has since made 65 appearances.
But in a stunning move, City boss has bid around £18 million for Evans – which has been turned down. However, Guardiola seems undeterred by this and is looking to go back to West Brom with an improved offer, which they may find very difficult to turn down.
Quite where Evans is likely to fit in at City remains to be seen – with the club already boasting John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi vying for the centre half roles – and plenty of options at full back and in the defensive midfielder role that Evans can also play.
However, reports also suggest that Eliaquim Mangala could be on his way out of City, with Inter Milan his likely destination.
Mangala spent last season on loan at Valencia – and though he returned to City over the summer, he only made the bench for their opening Premier League game at Brighton, and now Guardiola has apparently suggested Mangala has no future at City, so is happy for him to join Inter Milan – with a straight forward sale preferred, but otherwise a further season long loan deal agreed.
A snag here could be the fee City want for him – having shelled out a total of nearly £42 million on the player. City will never be able to recoup all that, but will want to claw back as much as possible – a figure which could thwart any interest in selling him sooner rather than later.
City remain also on the periphery where Southampton centre-half Virgil Van Dijk is concerned.
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