According to a report by Leicester Mercury, Leicester City are edging closer to securing a sensational summer swoop for West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans.
The report claims that the Foxes are negotiating a deal in the region of £3m which is a bargain fee for a defender of Evans’ calibre. His price tag has plummeted due to West Brom’s unfortunate relegation but that provides a greater reason for Leicester to make a move.
The former Manchester United star might be 30 years of age but his skills on the field are sharper than ever. In fact, he was one of the brightest players for West Brom even as they endured a dismal run over the course of the recently concluded season.
Evans is quite proficient at intercepting the ball to prevent opponent attackers from surging into the box and he also excels at supplying some impressive crosses and maintaining possession.
However, there are some weaknesses. He lacks pace and is quite weak when it comes to aerial encounters, which could be a worrisome prospect for Leicester.
But his performances, on the whole, are encouraging enough and with the possibility of signing him at a cut-price fee of merely £3m, it will be tough for Leicester to not look at the prospect of signing him.
Evans boasts of plenty of Premier League experience as well, meaning he could be an excellent figure to inspire the younger defenders in the squad.
He averages 1 tackle, 1.7 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game and he could go a long way in strengthening Leicester’s forces at the back. For a side that shipped 60 goals this past season, it is crucial to bring in an experienced head like Evans.
Also, with Robert Huth out of the picture, Leicester will be left with the likes of Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan. To boost depth and elevate their performances at the back, Evans could come in handy.
The Foxes managed to secure a loan deal for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic in the January window and it remains to be seen if they sign him on a permanent basis. But regardless of how things progress on that front, the club must make a solid attempt to sign Evans.
He boasts of experience, skills, power, agility and he could go on to become an influential player at the King Power Stadium.