Arsene Wenger reveals he no longer wants to sign West Brom’s Jonny Evans after summer snub
Gunners boss indentified Evans as the man to help shore up his defence but the Baggies refused to do business with the Londoners or Manchester City who were keen
ARSENE WENGER insists he is no longer interested in bringing West Brom centre-back Jonny Evans to Arsenal.
Evans, 29, has proved to be a vital cog in the heart of West Brom's defence since signing from Manchester United in 2015.
The Northern Ireland international helped them to a respectable 10th-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
And his talents have not gone unnoticed with the Northern Ireland international attracting interest from a host of top clubs.
Both Arsenal and Manchester City were apparently keen on signing him in the summer transfer window as they looked to bolster their defensive ranks.
But West Brom's refusal to sell their star man unless their £30million asking price was met, scuppered the chances of him securing a move.
However, when asked if he would still like to sign Evans in the future, Arsene Wenger said: “No.
“Once the transfer period is over, you focus on your squad and your players.
“You accept that as well from the players who play for their club.”
Wenger also revealed that he tried to secure a move for new Baggies signing Gareth Barry in 2009.
He added: “We were interested in him yes, when he moved from Aston Villa to Manchester City.
“But at the time City was the big investor and so that financial potential was superior to ours at the time.”
