‘If the money was right we’d think about selling Jonny’
TONY Pulis has admitted Albion would have to part company with star defender Jonny Evans if a big enough bid was received.
Evans, one of the Baggies’ most consistent performers for the second season running, was the subject of interest from Arsenal last summer.
The Gunners considered a £15 million bid before turning their attention to Shkodran Mustafi.
But with a number of the top-seven clubs seemingly vulnerable at the back, Evans could become a target for the big boys once again. And Pulis accepts it would be hard to hang on to the 29-year-old Northern Irishman if a sizeable offer was made.
“Being very pragmatic, if someone comes in and offers an absolute fortune we’d have to look at it,” he said.
“But we hope they never do that and we hope Jonny stays.
“We’ve got five games to go and I just hope and pray we get the points that will take us to where we want to be. The players deserve it and have overachieved massively. When you think of the size of the group and what we’ve got, it’s been wonderful what they’ve done.” Scoring goals has been a big problem of late with the Baggies firing blanks in six of their last seven games. Adding reinforcements up front is a priority for Pulis, but the Welshman is also hoping strengthen right across the board.
“More firepower is one of the focuses,” he said. “We want to try and improve it all over if we can.”
Albion have occupied a place in the top half of the Premier League since beating Burnley 4-0 in November. Despite a poor run of results in recent weeks, they still have a fivepoint buffer to Stoke in 11th.
“Maybe the other teams below us have had a similar run to us where they have had tough games,” Pulis said. to