Report claims Arsenal bid £12m for West Brom star Jonny Evans

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Arsenal were knocked back in their bid for West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans.

According to The Sun, Arsenal launched a £12 million deadline day bid for West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans as they looked to make a late swoop for the defender.

The Northern Ireland international centre-back was heavily linked with a move away from the Hawthorns during January as his contract with the Midlands club expires this coming summer.

Despite being able to walk away from the club for free in six months’ time, West Brom were adamant that their star central defender wouldn’t leave for a fee they deem below his true valuation.

Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with teammates during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion…

Manchester City were heavily linked with Evans during the transfer window, as reported by the Daily Mail, but it was Arsenal who decided to push through a late bid with The Sun reporting a deal worth around £12 million.

The Sun state, however, that West Brom knocked them back as they were looking for over £20 million and boss Alan Pardew weighed in with his thoughts on the matter.

“It wasn’t for lack of warning to Arsenal and to all the clubs,” he explained. “I’ve sat here every week saying ’Don’t make a bid on the last day, because you’re not going to get what you want, really’.

“Unless it was a bid that was going to knock us off our chair, and it was no way near that. So they got probably the response they were expecting with that bid, I think.”

West Brom know the qualities in which Evans possesses and they evidently feel the rewards for staying in the Premier League are far greater than the transfer fee which Arsenal were presenting.

The Baggies are currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table with 20 points from 23 matches, but with league games against Huddersfield, Watford and Leicester on the horizon there are points to be won.

Evans has been a key figure for the West Midlands side over the past few seasons, and a strong end to the season could see the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City return for him come the summer.