Jonny Evans is reportedly on the verge of joining Arsenal this month, with the Gunners close to agreeing a £25 million deal with West Bromwich Albion
According to a report by The Sun, Arsenal are inching closer to secure the services of Jonny Evans from West Bromwich Albion in the winter transfer window. The Gunners are on the verge of agreeing a £25 million deal to sign the Manchester United academy graduate.
Evans has seen his career find a stable footing since leaving boyhood club Manchester United to join West Brom in the summer of 2015. One of the first names on the team sheet, his reliable stature at the club has seen the player being entrusted with the captaincy of the Midlands club.
However, his future has been the subject of intense speculation since the summer of 2017, when Evans was heavily linked with Arsenal and Manchester City, among a host of other clubs. West Brom had even rejected a £25 million bid from the Citizens, with then manager Tony Pulis intent on keeping hold of the defender.
Since the failed transfer, Evans has returned to his customary place at the back of the West Brom defence and has made 20 appearances for the Baggies thus far. But, his future continues to remain up in the air, with a host of clubs still in his pursuit, including Arsenal, who are closing in on a deal for the player.
Arsenal are very close to completing a £25m move for Jonny Evans.
I think that he’ll be pretty solid at the back. pic.twitter.com/ixgu0PY4iu
— Olivier Giroud (@MFe73_) January 7, 2018
At Emirates, Arsene Wenger has the likes of Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and even Mathieu Debuchy, who has been deployed in a back-three this season, in addition to the first-choice trio of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal.
But, the need to sign a centre-back has accentuated in recent weeks, with Koscielny struggling for form as he deals with a persistent Achilles problem. Furthermore, Per Mertesacker is playing the final campaign of his playing career, and there are doubts over Shkodran Mustafi’s Arsenal future as well.
Evans is, thus, a viable January target for Arsenal, who could provide a fine short-term solution at the back. The player also brings years of experience in the Premier League, and is adept at playing in a back-three as well as a traditional back-four.
Manchester City had also been heavily linked with Evans, but Arsenal have seemingly taken a decisive lead in the race to sign him. Pep Guardiola has very few viable options beyond John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, with Eliaquim Mangala only a bit-part player and Vincent Kompany perennially struggling with fitness problems.
The Gunners are in advanced negotiations with West Brom and are on the verge of agreeing a £25 million deal, even though the Baggies have maintained that they don’t want to sell one of their best players. It now remains to be seen if the move sees the light of the day as Arsenal aim to reinforce their back-line this month.
