Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will launch a £20million bid for Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson if he fails to land former Manchester United star Jonny Evans.
West Brom have so far knocked back an £18 million offer for the Northern Ireland international and are holding out for £30million.
City aren't prepared to go that high and if the Baggies refuse to budge on their asking price for the Hawthorns skipper Guardiola will fix Boro's Gibson in his sights.
Ironically the 24-year-old who has been part of Gareth Southgate's England squad is on West Brom's shopping list and manager Tony Pulis has had two bids turned down by the Championship club.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson who is the player's uncle would love to keep his nephew on Teesside but knows that it would be more difficult if a club like title chasing Manchester City come calling.
Guardiola is anxious to bring in a British player to help his squad conform to Premier League rules which insist that clubs contain eight home grown players.
Both Evans and Gibson qualify on that score.