Manchester City make move for West Brom captain Jonny Evans

The Baggies have already rejected an £18million bid for Evans from Pep Guardiola's team and insist their star defender is not for sale.

But City are believed to be readying another offer for the in-demand centre-back in order to test Albion's resolve.

Leicester have already had a £10m bid for the Northern Irishman turned down but City, who can offer Champions League football and a title race this season, will be a far more attractive offer for Evans than the Foxes.

And their cash-rich owners have proved this summer they will be willing to table a big offer should Guardiola demand it.

The Manchester giants have already spent more than £120m on full-backs this window and the former Barcelona boss bought centre-back John Stones from Everton for £50m last summer.

The Baggies, who only had two centre-backs available on the opening day of the season, do not want to lose their second captain of the summer and insist Evans is not for sale.

Albion boss Tony Pulis made the Northern Irishman his captain following the shock departure of skipper Darren Fletcher to Stoke City.

However, the former Manchester United man didn't feature against Bournemouth last weekend after reporting a twinge to his hamstring on the day before the game.

Pulis admitted then that he had to take his captain's word for the injury, which he reported after City approached Albion with an offer.

“Jonny felt his hamstring in training on Friday and we didn't want to take a chance," said Pulis. "He went in to see the doctor at the training ground and came to the ground and told me on Saturday it was sore. So we take his word for it.”

The Baggies are also bracing themselves for a bid from Swansea City for out-of-favour Nacer Chadli after they sold Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton for £45m.

The Swans want Chadli to replace Sigurdsson but Albion will not entertain any offers below £25m for the Belgian, who was an unused substitute on the opening day of the season.

Pulis remains unhappy with Chadli after he declined to go on Albion's pre-season tour to Austria.