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Arsenal to launch bid to sign international defender in January, player keen on move

By on December 1, 2017

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are ready to make renewed attempts to sign West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans during the January transfer window.

We were strongly linked with Evans in the summer and reportedly had a £25m bid rejected by West Brom on deadline day as Arsene Wenger looked for a potential replacement for Shkodran Mustafi.

The Telegraph reported at the time that Mustafi was close to joining Inter Milan [something Arsenal and Mustafi have since denied] and the boss saw Evans as the man he wanted to bolster our defence.

A move failed to materialise and Mustafi has been in excellent form since returning from injury last month while Evans has endured a mixed time of things with a struggling West Brom side.

However, the Mirror claim Wenger is still looking to add to his defensive options this winter and is ready to make a renewed attempt to lure Evans to the Emirates.

New Baggies boss Alan Pardew has confirmed he’ll hold talks with the Northern Ireland international to seek assurances over his commitment to the club.

Pardew is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“I think the assurance I need is probably from Jonny more than anybody, and I haven’t met him yet. 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.”

Understandably, Pardew wants to know if Evans is committed to the club as he looks to turn their season around but the Mirror claim that Evans is keen on moving to the likes of Arsenal if a formal offer comes in.

It would be difficult for the 29-year-old to turn down a club like Arsenal but we could yet face stiff competition as it’s understood Manchester City are also still keen on the centre-back.