Why West Brom’s Evans to Manchester City is surely now inevitable

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Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City need defensive recruitment – surely Jonny Evans will sign from West Brom this time?

Josep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match against Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City need to address their defensive problems in the January transfer window or will be “in trouble”.

New signing Benjamin Mendy is out until April with a serious knee injury, John Stones won’t play until 2018 due to a hamstring issue and Guardiola knows captain Vincent Kompany has too many fitness problems to be relied upon on a consistent basis.

Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United and Vincent Kompany of Manchester City clash during the Premier League match at Old Trafford.

During City’s 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester United in their last Premier League outing, Kompany came off at half-time and the manager had to call upon Eliaquim Mangala in the second half despite the Frenchman almost left over the summer.

“In that department we have too few players and to handle all competitions we are in trouble, real trouble if this is the case,” Guardiola was quoted by the Guardian. “But I can’t assure anything. We’re going to see what will happen in January.

“Maybe we are thinking of looking at another central defender because of Vincent’s problems.”

Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match against Newcastle United.

This assessment from Guardiola surely makes a move to sign West Bromwich Albion skipper Jonny Evans an inevitability, with the centre-back the subject of a failed bid in August.

Since then the Baggies have struggled, resulting in the sacking of Tony Pulis as boss and under his replacement Alan Pardew they have now dropped into the relegation zone.

With the opportunity to move to the Etihad Stadium and take up a likely starting role in a team that looks almost certain to win the title with an 11-point lead at the top currently, Evans could not be blamed for leaving West Brom.