Arsenal have reportedly reignited their interest in Jonny Evans, and are set to launch an attempt to sign the West Bromwich Albion defender in January.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Arsenal are eager to bolster their defence in the winter transfer window. The Gunners have, thus, rekindled their interest in Jonny Evans and are ready to make a fresh move for the former Manchester United centre-back when the transfer market reopens in January.
Evans progressed through the ranks at Manchester United before breaking into the first-team setup in 2006. His time at Old Trafford though, was riddled with inconsistencies despite being regarded highly by Sir Alex Ferguson, and he ended up joining West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2015.
Upon his switch to the Hawthorns, the player seems to have finally found his feet as a reliable defender, with the Baggies rewarding him with the captaincy this season. While he does seem to be enjoying his football with West Brom, his progress has also seen him attract the interest of several suitors, which is quite concerning for the club.
The Northern Irishman was heavily linked with a move away from the Hawthorns in the summer, with Manchester City and Leicester City among the clubs linked with him. West Brom, on the other hand, have been trying to tie Evans down to a new deal, with just eighteen months left on his current contract.
According to the Mirror, #Arsenal are ready to make another move for Jonny Evans, in January, after having a £25m offer rejected in the summer. pic.twitter.com/t1ePpf7yef
— Gurjit (@GurjitAFC) November 30, 2017
Alan Pardew, too, has confirmed the same upon his appointment as the new Baggies boss this week, although the player’s future remains up in the air. One club is now ready to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding his position at West Brom.
Arsenal have been in pursuit of Evans for a long time, having attempted to sign him on several occasions previously, including the deadline day in the summer. And the Gunners don’t seem to have accepted defeat in pursuit of the 29-year-old, with a January bid set to be lodged.
Arsene Wenger currently has the likes of Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding in addition to his first-choice back-three at his disposal, with Mathieu Debuchy deployed as a centre-back as well this season.
But, the Arsenal boss is keen to add another top central defender to his squad in order to beef up his options further, making Evans a viable target, who has more than a decade’s worth of experience in the Premier League.
Manchester City are likely to make another move for Evans as well, with John Stones sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury. Vincent Kompany’s fitness problems in the last few years is well documented as well, making a centre-back admittedly a priority for Pep Guardiola.
It now remains to be seen if either club manages to secure the services of Evans in the winter transfer window, with a bid seemingly on the cards, or if West Brom succeed in tying him down to a new deal.
