Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Jonny Evans and could launch a shock January move for the Leicester City defender.
According to an exclusive report by The Sun, Manchester United could be set to make an attempt to re-sign Jonny Evans in the January transfer window. The Red Devils are monitoring their former defender’s contract situation at Leicester City and might make a move if he has not penned a new deal by the turn of the year.
Jonny Evans spent over a decade at Manchester United from 2004 till 2015, most of those years as a part of the first-team setup. The Northern Irishman’s time at Old Trafford came to an end when he joined West Bromwich Albion, where he went on to become the club captain before departing the Hawthorns to join Leicester City in the summer of 2018 following the Baggies’ relegation.
In over two years at Leicester, Evans has been a mainstay in defence, amassing 82 appearances for the Foxes. However, his future at the King Power Stadium remains unclear, with his contract set to run out at the end of the season. And, former club Manchester United are keeping a keen eye on the developments surrounding a possible renewal.
Manchester United’s defence seems to have improved steadily, albeit with Victor Lindelof blowing hot and cold. While Harry Maguire has been largely solid, the Swede’s inconsistencies do not help matters. In addition, Eric Bailly’s injury woes make him an unreliable quantity while Alex Tuanzebe has had his own fitness troubles and is still very young.
Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi are seen as the future for Manchester United but until they are ready, it might not hurt to procure a short-term defensive solution. Sergio Ramos has been linked and subsequently backed for success at Old Trafford.
His defensive partner at Real Madrid, Raphael Varane also appears to be on Manchester United’s radar. Evans, though, could be an interesting acquisition for the former Premier League champions but one that could pay off handsomely.
Since leaving Manchester United, Evans has grown considerably and is now one of the best in the Premier League. His signing would also help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer play with a much-sought left-footed centre-back. The report suggests that Manchester United could make a move for Evans if he has not signed a new deal with Leicester by January.
Evans, on his part, has admitted that he will be happy to extend his stay at Leicester. However, it will be interesting to see if the two parties are unable to reach an agreement over a renewal and if Manchester United subsequently make a move for their former defender.
