Arsenal step up chase to sign West Brom defender Jonny Evans and will push through deal before weekend
Gunners are desperate for reinforcements to back four after Sunday's FA Cup defensive horror show and will look to pip Manchester City for defender's signature
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ARSENAL have stepped up their efforts to sign West Brom defender Jonny Evans.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will go head-to-head with Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola for the defender who is keen to leave the Hawthorns this month.
The Sun exclusively reported this week Arsenal were in pole-position to bag the 30-year-old defender who has 18 months left on his current contract.
The need for a new central defender was reinforced by the defensive horror show on Sunday as the FA Cup holders crashed out 4-2 at Nottingham Forest.
Wenger is prepared to throw in frozen-out Mathieu Debuchy to help push through a deal.
Both the Gunners and City have contacted the West Midlands side this month about the defender, who has made it clear he will not sign a new deal at the club.
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City pushed for Evans in the summer and linking up with Guardiola is his preference as the Northern Irishman is keen to stay in the North West.
However, Evans does not want to dismiss Wenger’s interest, knowing he will get more game time at the Emirates instead of competing with Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Nicolas Otemandi at the Etihad.
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Baggies boss Alan Pardew seems resigned to losing the experienced defender, who could see this as the last chance to join a top club to challenge for silverware again.
Evans joined West Brom from Manchester United in 2015 for a cut-price £6m and is regarded as one the best defenders outside the top six clubs in the Premier League.