West Brom demand £25m for Arsenal target Evans

West Bromwich Albion have slapped a hefty £25 million price tag on star defender Jonny Evans, amid interest from Arsenal, according to reports in the British press.

The Telegraph is reporting that West Bromwich Albion are demanding a whopping £25 million for Jonny Evans who is a target for Arsenal. The Gunners have baulked at this valuation and will no longer pursue the former Manchester United defender.

Arsenal are known to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcement to ease the pressure of an injury crisis which has seen both Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista ruled out with long term injuries.

The Gunners’ primary target is Valencia’s German international centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, but reports suggest that manager Arsene Wenger is unwilling to meet the Spanish side’s valuation of the World Cup winning defender.

Evans was seen as Arsenal’s second choice option, with the feeling being that the twelve time FA Cup winners would be able to coax the Northern Ireland international away from the Hawthorns for a lower price that Valencia are asking for Mustafi.

But the Baggies remain resolute in their desire to hold onto the 28-year-old, and have placed such a heavy price the defender in order to deter the Gunners from following up their interest.

It now seems most likely that Arsenal will make a move to sign AS Monaco’s 23-year-old defender Marcel Tisserand.