Leicester consider second bid for West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans as they look to name Michael Appleton as their No 2
The Foxes had initial £10m offer for the Irish defender rejected but new boss Craig Shakespeare is determined to get his man
LEICESTER CITY are ready to up their bid for West Brom centre-half Jonny Evans.
The Foxes, also set to appoint Oxford United manager Michael Appleton as their new assistant boss, had a £10million bid for the Northern Irishman rejected last week.
They were told former Manchester United defender Evans was not available at any price.
But Leicester's newly-appointed manager Craig Shakespeare is nothing if not persistent and is ready to knock at the West Brom door again.
Having bought Hull City's Harry Maguire for 17m, he is happy to make another offer after growing frustrated with Middlesbrough's valuation of England international Ben Gibson.
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The news that City are keen to buy two central defenders this summer virtually confirms the end of the Wes Morgan-Robert Huth partnership.
Jonny Evans factfile
- Jonny Evans was born in Belfast in January 1988. He was initially a trainee at Manchester United and stayed at Old Trafford from 2006 to 2015.
- His early first team experience came on loan at Royal Antwerp, where he played 11 times in 2006.
- Evans started 179 games for United, with a further 17 appearances as a substitute.
- He scored seven times for the Red Devils, before twice moving on loan to Sunderland.
- He was at the Stadium of Light from January-May in 2007 and again from January-May 2008.
- Evans made a total of 35 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring just once.
- He left Manchester United for West Bromwich in August 2015 for £6million. He has since made 64 starts, was picked once on the bench and scored three goals.
- Evans has 54 caps for Northern Ireland and is the second most decorated player in his country's football history, behind Neil Lennon, with ten major trophies won with United.
The veteran duo were rock solid in Leicester's Premier League title-winning campaign but faltered badly last season after midfield enforcer N'Golo Kante left for Chelsea.
Without his protective shield Morgan and Huth were both found wanting.
Meanwhile, City are poised to confirm the appointment of Oxford United manager Appleton as Shakespeare's No 2.
Appleton is expected to complete his move to the King Power Stadium this week, with talks at an advanced stage.