West Brom manager Alan Pardew admits Jonny Evans could leave in January: 'You have to be realistic'

  • Alan Pardew remains 'realistic' at the prospect of losing Jonny Evans in January 
  • West Brom's captain has been linked with a move to both Manchester clubs
  • Arsenal has also shown an interest in the 29-year-old central defender
  • The Baggies have already turned down City's £18million bid in the summer
  • The Northern Ireland international is unlikely to sign a new deal with the club

West Brom manager Alan Pardew has admitted the club are 'realistic' at the prospect of losing captain Jonny Evans in the January transfer window.

Evans, 29, interests Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal despite Pep Guardiola having an £18million bid for the Northern Ireland defender turned down in the summer.


However with Evans likely to run down the final 18 months of his current contract rather than agree a new one, Pardew admits the situation may effectively be taken out of The Baggies hands.

Alan Pardew admits West Brom are 'realistic' at the prospect of losing Jonny Evans in January

Alan Pardew admits West Brom are 'realistic' at the prospect of losing Jonny Evans in January

The Baggies manager maintains that he wants his captain to stay at the club

The Baggies manager maintains that he wants his captain to stay at the club

'The biggest plus would be for Jonny to stay if I'm honest. But if a bid is such that it becomes very difficult to ignore, we will look at it then. 

'I think you have to be realistic in these situations. Jonny is a top player, other clubs were interested in him in the summer. We know that and he knows that,' said Pardew.

'We have to be intelligent and straightforward dealing with it. He is under contract for West Brom. 

'He knows he can have conversations with us, we will give him the best deal we can possibly go to on the financial side and length of contract. But that might not be the whole thing with Jonny.'

'The scrutiny can impact on players, their performance can go off. Jonny has been up for the battle though. 

'He's not caused me any kind of negativity that sometimes players can do. He gets a big tick in my report.'

The 29-year-old has been linked with a move back to his former club, Manchester United

The 29-year-old has been linked with a move back to his former club, Manchester United

West Brom head to Stoke City in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday with victory guaranteeing Pardew's men escape from the bottom three.

However, they haven't won for a club record 17 matches and will be delighted Craig Dawson, Nacer Chadli and Matt Phillips are all likely to return to the squad after injury.

Albion have scored only 13 league goals this season, less than anyone else bar Swansea, and Pardew admitted: 'The top of the pitch is where we've been a little bit dysfunctional.

'We have to find that better balance but I have to feel for the team a little bit, in that some big creative forces haven't been available.'

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