Let’s start with the Daily Mail, and continuing reports of City’s interest in defender Jonny Evans.
Simon Jones and Laurie Whitwell write: “West Bromwich are braced for a bid of up to £25million from Manchester City for centre back Jonny Evans.
“City’s £18m bid was rejected, with Albion manager Tony Pulis is anxious to keep Evans and strengthen his defence by signing Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer for £15m.
“Evans missed the opening win over Bournemouth with a hamstring injury and is set to be ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Burnley.”
Over at ESPN Simon Curtis’s regular column takes in the long view of City’s rivalry with Everton ahead of Monday’s Premier League game at the Etihad Stadium.
He reflects: “Living in the shadows of the local behemoth is a sad fate that befell both clubs from the late ‘60s onward. A morose sense of humour, born out of myriad wretched disappointments, has become a feature of the clubs’ support. As Liverpool and United grew steadily into all-consuming megaliths, followers of City and Everton were required to develop thick skins.
“The curious thing about the oft-used tag for Everton as one of the last bastions of reality, a “proper football club,” was that this was precisely what was preventing them from joining the ranks of the Premier League’s big hitters.
“The wonderful, traditional lines of their atmospheric if uncomfortable stadium, the church in the corner, the Z Cars theme that still blasts on match days and the girls with baskets of toffees all make it a unique place.
“All of these quintessential features had been holding Everton back from joining Chelsea and City as new contenders for the game’s big prizes. With this summer’s outlay of more than £130 million, Everton have cast aside their bridesmaid’s image and recouped most of it with the single sale of Romelu Lukaku.”
Everton played last night, defeating Hadjuk Split 2-0 in the Europa League qualifier first leg, before which new club-record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson was paraded in front of the fans.
Afterward boss Ronald Koeman told the Club’s website: “We will do some tests to see about Gylfi’s physical state. He needs game time, but if it’s game time he needs - it will be with the first team.
“I don’t know if he’ll be involved on Monday, but we will make that decision on Sunday.”
Finally, Brazilian legend Cafu has been speaking about just how good City striker Gabriel Jesus can become.
Squawka report: “Cafu has backed Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus to emulate Romario and Ronaldo by becoming an ‘all-time great’ for Brazil.
“The 20-year-old has made a flying start to his Brazil career, scoring five goals in seven senior caps, while he also helped his country to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio last year.
“Former defender Cafu, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, told UOL Esporte: ‘If Gabriel Jesus maintains his form for Brazil, I believe he’ll be up there with Romario and Ronaldo as an all-time great.’”
We’ll be back with more same time, same place on Saturday...
