Pep Guardiola's bid to sign West Bromwich Albion captain Jonny Evans has been held up as the latest example of transfer window madness.

There have been headlines suggesting this is a "shock move", another clear sign of a manager losing his marbles as desperation grips like wet rope ahead of the transfer window closing on August 31.

There was also widespread bemusement that West Brom had the temerity to dismiss a bid supposedly as low as £18 million.

But why the surprise? Why the snobbery that somebody as astute as Guardiola should be scratching around bargain bins in the Midlands for cheap deals on average players?