£3m Jonny will be bargain of the summer says boss O’Neill

MICHAEL O’NEILL thinks Jonny Evans will be the summer’s most wanted man for Premier League clubs.

Due to the terms of his contract, the central defender (left) is leaving relegated West Brom for a price of just

£3million and a host of top-flight clubs are keen to snap him up.

Arsenal are interested along with Everton, West Ham and Leicester while champions Manchester City and his old club Manchester United are keeping an eye on things.

There will be many big moves in the weeks ahead but O’Neill is sure Evans,

30, represents the best value of them all and has the ability to shine with one of the big clubs.

The Northern Ireland boss said: “When I see what clubs will spend on centre-backs, Jonny is the best value on the market this summer given his situation.”

O’Neill, who has made Evans his captain at international level for the upcoming tour of Central America in the absence of the injured Steven Davis, added: “Jonny is a player who should be with a top-six team.

“I look at the teams who occupy those positions and the centre-backs who play for them. Could Jonny Evans play in those teams? Of course he could.

“If you are considering signing Jonny Evans, you’re not judging him on this season. If you want to look at him, look at him in the second leg against Switzerland.

“Look at him in our games against Czech Republic and Germany. Those are where you see the real Jonny.”

O’Neill suggests it was a mistake for United to let Evans leave in 2015.

He said: “I think United would probably say that was a decision that possibly wasn’t the right one.

“Jonny was unfortunate to leave in the situation that he did.”

STEVEN BEACOM