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Jonny Evans is closing in on a move away from Manchester United but looks set to remain in the Premier League with Everton ready to offer £8 million for his services, according to reports in The Guardian. The reported transfer fee is a compromise between the £10m the Old Trafford club are holding out for and The Toffees manager Roberto Martinez’s £6m evaluation of the 27-year-old.
Evans came through the ranks at United after joining them as a 10-year old and was given his chance in the senior team after impressing with loan spells at Royal Antwerp and Sunderland. The Ulsterman has featured 198 times till date for the Old Trafford outfit. He now looks set to follow another Red Devils’ academy talent - Tom Cleverley - to Goodison Park.
Cleverley spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Aston Villa but decided to move to Everton on a free transfer after his contract with United ran out. Everton, who had a below par season last year, are looking for defensive reinforcements after letting Sylvain Distin and Antonin Alcaraz leave.
Evans – A tale of unfulfilled potential
Evans’ impressive performances in his final two years at Old Trafford had prompted Sir Alex to label Evans as “arguably the best defender in the country.” He was widely expected to fill the void left by the departures of United’s long-serving central defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand last summer.
With Patrice Evra also leaving for Juventus, Evans was the senior most defender in the squad and looked set to lead the back-line of United. The Northern Ireland international looked to be on his way after impressing in the cub’s pre-season tour to the United States but fell down the pecking order as the season progressed.
Evans was the skipper when United were beaten 4-0 by MK Dons in the Carling Cup and a spate of injuries and disciplinary issues meant he ended the season with just 15 appearances to his name.
Though the defender enjoyed public backing from Van Gaal over the spitting incident involving Papiss Cisse, which resulted in a six-match ban, talks of a fall-out with the Dutchman refused to die down. With his fellow defenders all signing long-term contracts at United, Evans’ time at old Trafford looks like it is coming to an end.
Roberto Martinez dismisses Evans link
Everton manager Roberto Martinez meanwhile has squashed reports linking Evans with the club. Speaking at a press conference in Singapore where the club are taking part in a pre-season tournament, the Spaniard said there was no truth in the alleged rumours.
