Arsenal are ready to make a fresh move for Jonny Evans as they target a new defender in January.

The Gunners had a £25million deadline day bid turned down by West Brom in August but are still keen — with league leaders and rival summer suitors Manchester City also likely to again be interested.

Arsene Wenger wants another centre-half to bolster his squad and Evans is understood to be interested in moving if another big offer comes in.

Arsenal also tried to get him in summer 2016, and new West Brom boss Alan Pardew admits he will hold talks with the Northern Ireland defender to assess his commitment and if he wants to leave.

Evans could swap the Baggies' fight against relegation to play in the Big Six (
Image:
AFP/Getty)

“I think the assurance I need is probably from Jonny more than anybody, and I haven’t met him yet," said Pardew. "I’m looking forward to seeing him. I think he’s a fabulous player and very important for the club, so I will have a good old discussion with him.”

Pardew got the nod from Albion's Chinese owner Guochuan Lai to succeed the sacked Tony Pulis on the basis of his Premier League experience.

Lai wants to run the club as a sustainable, profitable outfit after paying £170m to take over last summer.

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It means Pardew is unlikely to have major funds to spend this January — unless players are sold to generate them.

But he said: “When I look at the clubs who are involved, particularly around the relegation area, I know they’re going to do business. You can’t take our eye off that. We have to grow as much as we can.

“I also know from my experience at Newcastle you can lose key players in January. You need to be on your guard to replace them. I will have to see how we go and assess quickly.

“I will take on board the staff I have here and their information, talk to the analysts and see where our numbers are and try and react to that.”