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Report: Arsenal make approach for defender, told he is not for sale
By Tony Hughes
West Brom have told Arsenal they will refuse to sell Jonny Evans even for a £10million profit, according to a report.
The Sun claim the Midlands club do not want to cash in on the centre-back just 12 months after his arrival from Manchester United.
It is said that the Gunners have made contact over Evans but West Brom have told their Premier League rivals that even a bid of £16million would be rejected.
The Baggies only paid an initial £6m for the Northern Irishman after he was offloaded by former United manager Louis van Gaal last summer.
This is another blow for Arsene Wenger in his extensive search to find a new centre-back.
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The Arsenal boss has admitted he is in the market for a defender as Per Mertesacker (knee) is out for five months, Gabriel (ankle) for eight weeks and Laurent Koscielny is not match-fit.
The London giants are also monitoring Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi, Bayer Leverkusen’s Omer Toprak and Fenerbahce’s Simon Kjaer to fill their centre-back void.
It was also reported on Wednesday night by the Mail that Arsenal have opened talks with Atletico Madrid over a deal to sign Jose Gimenez.
It is said that the centre-back, 21, has a £56million release clause although Arsenal are unwilling to pay such a high fee.
In other Arsenal transfer news, an international midfielder claims Arsenal and Liverpool have tracked him and he held talks with Arsene Wenger.