Manchester City have had an £18m bid for Jonny Evans rejected by West Brom, who can force them to pay so much more.
It is understood that City have been in discussion with West Brom for the past couple of weeks, but the West Midlands club insist Evans is not for sale.
Leicester City forward Islam Slimani (L) fights for the ball with West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans (R) during the Premier League Asia Trophy match.
They held the same stance when Leicester City enquired about the centre-back and also rejected a £10m bid from the Foxes earlier this summer.
Unless Evans has his head turned by the Citizens then the Baggies’ firm stance should be the end of it, but despite coming through the ranks at Manchester United and being in their first team for nine years, the prospect of playing under Pep Guardiola and in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium will surely be tempting.
In that scenario, West Brom must make sure they make as much money as possible from a defender who will be 30 next birthday and whom they paid the Red Devils £6m (BBC) just two years ago.
There is recent precedent after all, with Tottenham Hotspur forcing City to pay £45m rising to £50m (BBC) for Kyle Walker in July, while Benjamin Mendy was signed from Monaco for £52m (BBC) shortly after.
Evans is under contract at the Hawthorns until 2019 and while manager Tony Pulis does not want to lose him, if the time comes then at least he can make the Citizens grossly overpay in what is increasingly becoming an inflated transfer market.
Tony Pulis, manager of West Bromwich Albion
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