Arsenal handed boost in their pursuit of Jonny Evans

Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of West Brom defender Jonny Evans.

The Gunners have been chasing the Northern Ireland international since the summer and with their need to recruit a new central defender only intensifying, they are lining up a January swoop for the player.

Recent reports indicated that Arsenal lodged an offer worth £10 million, along with out of favour defender Mathieu Debuchy, in an attempt to secure Evans’ services.

However, as quoted by the Evening Standard, Baggies boss Alan Pardew denied these claims, but conceded that Evans could depart the Hawthorns in the near future.

That’s not a deal that’s been put to us… someone has released that and it’s not true. Jonny is still at the football club and we haven’t had a bid put to us that is anywhere near acceptable. We’ve had a couple of enquiries of what we would be looking for, and the answer has been ‘we’re not going to tell you’. You make a bid and you’ll get some gauge.

What I will confirm is what you already know, Jonny Evans is a target for other clubs, we might sell if the price is right, that’s that deal, everything else is pure speculation.

It’s believed that Evans has a release clause of £3m if West Brom are to be relegated this season, and this possibility appears to be somewhat likely given their awful form in the Premier League this season.

However, a January sale remains very much on the cards and if Arsenal can match Evans’ valuation, it seems a move this month is likely.