Pardew set to trade Evans for goals

ALAN PARDEW admits he is planning for life without defender Jonny Evans as he strives to give his side renewed attacking impetus during the January window. Ideally, the West Bromwich Albion boss would keep his best centre back but he needs to add a striker and must sell before he can buy. Pardew’s position is made more desperate by news that forward Nacer Chadli is expected to be out until March with a recurrence of a hip injury. Evans drew major interest last summer, with Manchester City bidding £18million, Leicester £23m, and tomorrow’s opponents Arsenal submitting a £25m offer on deadline day. West Brom stuck to their £30m valuation for the 29-year-old but may be more willing to do business once the window reopens. City boss Pep Guardiola still wants to add a defender to his team having missed out on Virgil van Dijk, who is moving to Liverpool from Southampton. ‘You would be naive if you didn’t try to cover all the options,’ said Pardew. ‘So there is a scenario that Jonny might move. There is a scenario that he doesn’t. ‘I’m confident he will play Arsenal and West Ham (on Tuesday). After that, let’s wait and see.’ Pardew said Van Dijk’s £75m fee should act as a guide. ‘If I compare Jonny with central defenders in the Premier League, he is right up there,’ said Pardew. It is uncertain when Chadli will play again after the Belgian limped off during the defeat by Stoke on December 23. ‘We think he’s going to miss the first two months of the new year, which is a big blow for us,’ said Pardew. Albion are on an 18-game winless run in the Premier League and have scored just 14 goals this season — two in Pardew’s six games in charge. ‘Going to a back four, we’ve looked solid but we have to take risks,’ he said. ‘The goals-against column might go up a bit but I’m not scared as long as the goals-for column goes up on a steeper graph!’