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Exclusive: Arsenal join race to sign Jonny Evans from West Brom ahead of transfer deadline day
Arsenal have entered the running for Jonny Evans as West Bromwich Albion brace themselves for an improved bid from Manchester City for the Northern Ireland centre-half.
City are expected to make a third offer worth up to £30 million for Evans today but Arsenal are understood to have enquired about the former Manchester United defender last night.
Arsenal had a bid for Evans rebuffed by West Brom last year but Arsene Wenger wants to sign a centre-half after his side’s calamitous start to the season and could look to muscle in on City’s efforts to sign the player.
Leicester City had a bid of £21 million for Evans rejected this week but have little chance of landing the 29-year-old is City and Arsenal end up in a straight fight for him.
West Brom want at least £30 million for Evans and are opposed to sanctioning his sale unless his valuation is met.
The prospect of Arsenal challenging City for Evans is an intriguing development given that City are actively trying to entice Alexis Sanchez from the North London club.
It emerged this morning that City are prepared to offer England winger Raheem Sterling as part of a package to sign Sanchez. City would favour a straight cash deal but recognise that they only way of tempting Arsenal to sell at this late stage would be if they include a player as part of the deal.
Whether City would be prepared to back down over Evans and clear the path for Arsenal in an attempt to facilitate a move for Sanchez is unclear although that would be a surprise development given the onus Pep Guardiola has placed on signing a centre-half before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
Evans is currently training at City’s CFA base with Northern Ireland ahead of their World Cup qualifiers away to San Marino on Friday and the Czech Republic in Belfast three days later.