Everton, Leicester City and Newcastle United are reportedly among the clubs in contention to sign Pontus Jansson in January.
A recent report from The Guardian has offered an update on the future of Pontus Jansson. The 30-year-old centre-back is facing an uncertain future at Brentford, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season. He is yet to make a decision on his future, thus putting multiple clubs across England on red alert.
Leicester City, Everton and Newcastle United are among the clubs in contention to sign Jansson, who has been the beating heart of the Brentford defence in the Premier League this season. The newly-promoted outfit, though, has no intention of offloading their star defender on a cut-price deal, when it comes to selling him next month.
With 16 appearances so far, Jansson’s imposing 1.96m figure combined with his leadership and understanding alongside Ethan Pinnock have helped the Bees enjoy an impressive start to the Premier League campaign. But it appears the defender could be on his way out of West London next month, as clubs like Everton remain keen on his services.
The Toffees are in the market for a new centre-back in January due to fears over the lack of depth in the defensive unit, coupled with the uncertain future of Yerry Mina. The Colombian international is reportedly a target for Atletico Madrid, with Everton valuing him at around €25 million.
Rafael Benitez, though, is set to face stiff competition from Leicester City in the pursuit of Jansson. The Foxes are looking for a more reliable defensive option than summer signing Jannik Vestergaard after a disappointing start to the season. Not to mention, there are concerns over the long-term futures of players like Caglar Soyuncu and Wesley Fofana, who is reportedly a target for Real Madrid.
Another club in contention to sign the Brentford centre-back is Benitez’s former employer, Newcastle United. After being taken over by the Saudi-backed consortium, the club’s new head coach Eddie Howe has appeared desperate to bolster his defensive options in January, as he attempts to launch a survival campaign during the season half of the season.
Howe is already eyeing a reunion with Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly. But in Pontus Jansson, he could find himself a more reliable defensive option, who has already impressed in the Premier League this term. With almost 200 appearances in the Championship, the Swede is no stranger to English football either, making him an excellent target for each of the three Premier League clubs.