Pep Guardiola was reluctant to press the case for ex-Manchester United defender Jonny Evans joining Manchester City after West Brom rejected a bid for the Northern Ireland international.
Albion boss Tony Pulis told reporters on Friday that his club had turned down an offer for the 29-year-old, which was understood to be in the region of £18million.
Pulis did not rule out a deal if City were to return with "an enormous amount of money" but Guardiola was more focused on his counterpart's sentiment that West Brom did not need or want to sell the centre-back.
"Jonny Evans is a player of West Brom. Tony Pulis was clear," Guardiola said when discussing City's remaining transfer window plans at a pre-match news conference for Monday's home game against Everton.
"We tried to do the best as possible for the new season, and we are going to see how the market finishes.
"We stay with the players we have right now, if someone comes we will be happy too. I know how hard the club works.
"We try to do our best, sometimes it is possible, sometimes not, so [there is] nothing to say.
"Like last season, every season I start thinking my players are the best. We talk with Txiki [Begiristain, City's director of football], but everyone has his own opinions and after that we try to decide who should make our club stronger."
Left-back Benjamin Mendy is still not ready to feature due to a thigh injury he was carrying before completing a move to City from Monaco, although goalkeeper Ederson, full-backs Kyle Walker and Danilo and playmaker Bernardo Silva could all make their home debuts when Everton visit the Etihad Stadium.
Our last goal against @Everton from Every Angle!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 17, 2017
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City were unable to beat the Merseyside club last season - suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park - and Ronald Koeman has impressively bolstered his squad with the likes of former Manchester United favourite Wayne Rooney, ex-Barcelona youngster Sandro Ramirez, Davy Klaassen and record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson, who finally arrived from Swansea City this week.
"Everton are a top squad and they have bought good players. They are one of the best teams in the league, I am sure of that," Guardiola added.
"I expect they will play the same way [as last season], attack our defenders with players like Sandro.
"They have a strong defence, they have excellent players."
