BIG BAGG OF JONNY CASH
WEST BROM are ready to offer Jonny Evans a bumper £20m deal to kill off rumours of a move to Leicester.
Albion are keen to open contract talks that could make Evans their first £100,000-a-week player.
And boss Tony Pulis still wants to partner the Northern Ireland defender with in-demand former England captain John Terry.
The Baggies are likely to offer Evans a four-year deal after telling the Foxes they are wasting their time trying to lure the 29-year-old to the King Power Stadium.
Rejected
Pulis is determined not to sell the former Manchester United centre-half, who has two years left on his contract, having already rejected a £10m bid from Leicester.
Sources claim it would take an offer of at least £30m to prompt a change of heart.
They believe Leicester have set the bar high for defenders this summer by agreeing to pay up to £17m for Harry Maguire, a player with far less top-flight experience than Evans.
West Brom’s highest earners pick up £80,000 a week but they would raise that figure for Evans, who has become a lynchpin for the Baggies since joining from United in 2015.
That could see him picking up £5m a year.
He is also among the contenders to be the new captain after Darren Fletcher stunned Albion fans by defecting to Stoke.
Terry would be favourite to be handed the armband if Pulis can persuade him to move to The Hawthorns after leaving Chelsea as a free agent.
The Baggies believe they can beat Bournemouth to the 36-year-old’s signature if he decides to stay in the Premier League.
Pulis reckons he can sell his more structured approach to Terry, who he believes could be exposed by the Cherries’ more attacking style.
The Albion boss is also hoping to finally sign Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez later this month after opening talks over a £12m deal.
West Brom were close to landing the England international last summer before Saints called off the deal, but they are now ready to let the 27-year-old leave.
Pulis tried again to sign him in January and believes he will now finally get his man this summer.