City chiefs hold transfer meeting to discuss targets

The principal discussions in the meeting, which took place before City's 3-1 victory over Newcastle at the Etihad on Saturday, centred on Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred and West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans. 

The English newspaper reported that the move for the £40m-rated Brazilian is at a more advanced stage as a delegation from the Ukrainian club was seen in Manchester earlier in the week. 

Pep Guardiola would like the 24-year-old to join in summer but allegedly wants to finalise the deal soon, with the midfielder's stock likely to rise with the Champions League knockout stages and World Cup fast-approaching. 

However, the potential transfer for Evans appears to be more complicated despite the manager hoping to add a new central defender in January. 

The Northern Irish international has 18 months left on his contract at the Hawthorns and is valued at £20m. But manager Alan Pardew will want to extract as much money as he can for his star defender as West Brom look to bolster their squad with a relegation battle on their hands. 

It could be a busy 10 days at the Etihad with transfer deadline day imminent.