Manchester City are on the brink of giving up on Jonny Evans and bidding £20m for Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson instead.

City have identified Gibson as the best alternative to Evans, given his Premier League experience and his qualification as an England-trained player under Uefa regulations. Pep Guardiola believes City need one more centre-back as cover this summer, especially in case Vincent Kompany gets injured.

With 10 days left in the window they have made 24-year-old Gibson their new Plan B, after West Bromwich Albion rejected City’s opening £18m bid for Northern Ireland international Evans. Fear over a potentially spiralling fee for Evans, with West Brom demanding more than £30m, has prompted City to turn to Gibson this week.

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Gibson has been subject to Premier League interest all summer but so far Middlesbrough have kept hold of him. Chelsea have a long standing interest but City will be the first big club to make a serious offer.