Everton join Manchester City in race to land West Brom skipper Jonny Evans

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Everton have entered the race for West Brom defender Jonny Evans and are set to battle it out with Manchester City to secure his signature.

According to the Sun, West Brom are open to selling their skipper with both Pep Guardiola and the managerless Toffees eager to bring him in to prop up their defences.  

City tried signing Evans during the summer window but failed to meet the Baggies' £35million price tag before the window slammed shut. 

Everton have joined Manchester City in the race to sign West Brom defender Jonny Evans

Despite their blistering start this season, which has seen them go unbeaten in all competitive games, City boss Guardiola is still keen on shoring up his defensive options.

He will however now face competition for the Northern Ireland international, with Everton expressing a desire to bring him to Goodison.

Their defenders Micheal Keane and Ashley Williams have struggled for consistency this season, which has seen them post the fourth worst defensive record in the Premier League so far.

City boss Pep Guardiola tried to sign Evans in the summer and is set to return for him

Although spending big in the summer has not returned positive results for the Toffees, owner Farhad Moshiri is prepared to dig deep into his pockets once more in an attempt to work their way out of trouble.

And he will have to dig very deep with the asking price set to be huge when the January transfer window opens.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis did his utmost to ensure they held on to Evans during the summer and is bracing himself for another bruising window.

West Brom are open to the idea of selling their skipper in January but only for huge money

But Evans' campaign has been blighted by injury so far which could tempt the Baggies to accept big money rather than battle to hold on to him again. 

As well as Evans Everton are also keeping tabs on Preston's young left back Josh Earl, who is being touted as an ideal long-term replacement for Leighton Baines. 

Their scout Steve Walsh had watched the 19-year-old against Brentford last week, before the defender sustained knee ligament damage in the following game against Aston Villa.

They are thought to still be interested but the injury has put a stumbling block in the way and slowed down their pursuit for him.