Arsenal are weighing up a surprise £16million bid for West Bromwich Albion centre-back Jonny Evans.
The Northern Ireland international has been identified by Arsene Wenger as someone who can fill the void left by Per Mertesacker’s injury.
Evans was a target for Wenger while at Manchester United but the Old Trafford club refused to countenance selling him to their rivals.
The 28-year-old has been dogged by injury in the past but put together 45 games for club and country last season and impressed for Northern Ireland in their Euro 2016 campaign.
Evans joined Albion for £6m last summer from United but is now valued at treble that by Tony Pulis.
Arsenal have been considering the likes of Shkodran Mustafi at Valencia and Federico Fernandez at Swansea City in their search for a new defender and a deal for Evans will come as a shock to many observers but Wenger has confidence he can strengthen their squad.
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Arsène Wenger discussed transfers at his press conference at the Stubhub Center on Saturday.
Here’s a transcript of what he said:
on transfer approach…
I buy players that I feel can strengthen our team. Today you have to be very strong inside the club when you are responsible, not just to buy [for the sake of buying]. There’s always a wave of opinions. I must say people are better informed today – they know all the players. They tell you always that you should buy but when you ask them who to buy, they become much shorter. If you look at the market in Europe, there’s a lot of money available but not many players who really strengthen the teams. If you look at the teams that spend the most money in Europe, they’re not necessarily the teams that won the championships. The global investment of the clubs around us didn’t stop Leicester winning the championship.
on transfers…
We are still on the market for players. [Be it] at the front or at the back – we are on the market. Unfortunately we are not alone.
on Mahrez and Lacazette…
The best way to conclude transfers is not to talk about them, which is very difficult in the press conference! We are on the market but I don’t want to talk specifically about any player because that makes it more difficult for me – and it’s difficult enough.
on if he expects to sign a defender before the season starts…
Yes I do.
