West Brom were expected to cash in on the experienced defender before the transfer window closed.
West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew has explained how the loan coup of Daniel Sturridge will allow the club to keep hold of key defender Jonny Evans.
The Baggies were expected to cash in on the 30-year-old before the close of the January transfer window and use the money to bolster other areas of their squad.
According to The Mirror on Monday, Evans could have been Arsenal’s this month for £20m, but Pardew now expects the Northern Ireland international to stay at The Hawthorns.
The 56-year-old told his press conference on Tuesday that acquiring Sturridge on loan from Liverpool means that Albion no longer require the funds to sign a striker.
Sky Sports quote Pardew as saying: “You have to understand that the pressure in terms of signing a big striker in today’s game puts a lot of stress on the football club, in terms of the finances and how a club goes forward.
“This deal, being a loan deal, makes life a lot easier for us. I think Jonny Evans will stay at this football club.”
With both Sturridge and Evans in their ranks, and Jay Rodriguez finding form with five goals in his last six matches, West Brom now seem well equipped to avoid relegation.
The Baggies are 19th in the Premier League table, three points adrift of safety, but they have lost just one of their last five games and beat Liverpool in the FA Cup last weekend.
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