Arsenal and Manchester City are still interested in sealing a deal for West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans in January but the two sides will surely hope the Baggies will see fit to lower their £23m ($32.1m) asking price for the Northern Ireland defender.

It’s going to potentially go down to the wire, so let’s take a look at the current situation…

Evans has informed Baggies boss Alan Pardew that he wishes to leave the club this month and they are more than willing to listen to offers for the ex-Manchester United player, who was close to leaving in the summer transfer window.

Evans has 18 months left on his current deal with the club and is still attracting a huge interest from Arsenal and City, who have also been linked with a move for Athletic Club’s Aymeric Laporte. However, the Premier League leaders are hopeful West Brom will see fit to lower their £23m asking price for Evans to around £18m, according to The Times.

West Brom need to sell in order to make new signings, Alan Pardew has been told he must sell in order to buy any player he wishes to bring to the Hawthorns. The former Crystal Palace boss said last week that City and Arsenal have not yet contacted the club over a deal for Evans this month but admitted he is “in the dark” over the club’s long-term future with the club. Pardew said in a recent press conference as quoted Sky Sports:

“From my point of view there is no bid so there’s nothing to discuss.”

“On the other hand, we have scenarios that are going to time out if we don’t get a bid for Jonny that’s acceptable for him and us.”

“Jonny hasn’t come and see me this week so I’m in the dark a little bit. We haven’t had a phone call from another football club and that’s where it stands.”

West Brom’s interest to sort Evans’ future may arise from the relegation clause included his contract, which will allow any interested party to sign him for as a low as £3m. West Brom are confident of making it out of the relegation zone, but they are not willing to risk losing such a huge sum of money on a player whose value will only depreciate in the coming months.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recently admitted his side’s interest in Evans and told of his concern over the keen competition from Pep Guardiola’s side, the defender’s preferred choice. Man City are bookies favourites to win the race for Evans, but Goal.com claims City are lining up £60m to sign Laporte, who rejected a move to join the club 18 months ago, while the Premier League leaders are also said to be interested in signing Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred.

The Citizen’s proposed move for Laporte would surely hamper Evans’ chances of plying his trade at the Etihad Stadium and he might consider joining Arsenal who will be left to fend-off interest from long-term admirers Leicester City for his services.

Article provided by Ojo Olayiwola Adisa of www.footballweeks.com

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