According to reports in The Sun, Everton are set to miss out on the signing of West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans, who is currently earning £75,000-a-week according to The Mirror, after Manchester City were told that they can sign the 30-year-old in a £23.5m deal this month.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Telegraph reported on December 21 that the Toffees were keen to bring the Baggies captain to Goodison Park during the January transfer window, but now The Sun reports that the runaway Premier League leaders are expected to bid for the Northern Ireland international in the next 24 hours.

The Sun says that West Brom are resigned to losing their skipper with Pep Guardiola's men and Arsenal considered to be the frontrunners for his signature, with the report adding that City will still hope to reduce the price to £20m given Evans only has 18 months remaining on his contract at the Hawthorns.

How has Evans done this season?

He has once again been one of the Baggies' most consistent performers, but he would have been delighted to get a big monkey off of his back last weekend.

The 30-year-old missed West Brom's opening three Premier League matches of the campaign – in which they were unbeaten and picked up seven points – before returning for the 3-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the start of September.

The Baggies then went on a run of 19 top flight matches without a win – of which Evans played all but 58 minutes of – before they finally beat the Seagulls 2-0 at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

Would he have been a good signing for Everton?

Given his Premier League experience for Manchester United and West Brom throughout his career and his qualities as a defender and in possession, he certainly would have been.

Evans is also able to play as a left-sided centre-back and as a left-back – two positions the Toffees look to need to strengthen either this month or in the summer – which would have been attractive option for Sam Allardyce.

However, the fact that he is 30 years of age means that he wouldn't be a long-term option for the Merseyside outfit, and in that respect they probably won't be too disappointed to miss out on him as they can look for someone a bit younger to fill the role instead.

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