Guardiola: Manchester City 'couldn't afford' to buy Jonny Evans

Pep Guardiola isn't afraid to be open about Manchester City's failed pursuit of Jonny Evans.

On Friday, Guardiola claimed that City couldn't afford to buy Evans from West Bromwich Albion, saying Tony Pulis' valuation of the Northern Irish centre-back was too high. The Baggies reportedly valued the product of Manchester United at around £25 million and rejected the Citizens' £18-million bid.

Had Evans joined City, he would have become just the sixth footballer to play for both City and United in the Premier League era.

"My colleague Tony Pulis put a price that we couldn't afford at that moment," Guardiola said, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson. "I don't know about the summer or next season but now he's a player for West Brom. We will survive. In the end we spent money, we sold players. We bought five players who cost around £35 million each. It's not a big issue because we sold a lot. We've got money to invest again. I'm happy with the squad and we'll move forward with that."

Evans scored his first international goal since March 2009 as Northern Ireland beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in 2018 World Cup qualifying, confirming that the Green and White Army will finish no lower than second in Group C. His partner in crime, Chris Brunt, scored the other goal.

According to The Telegraph's John Percy, Evans is in line for a new deal worth £80,000 per week after staying put at West Brom. He was allegedly also being targeted by Arsenal and Leicester City.