Arsene Wenger has explained why Arsenal failed to sign Jonny Evans in January.
Despite splashing out a club-record £55 million on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and welcoming Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of the deal which saw Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United, Arsenal supporters remain concerned by the lack of defensive reinforcements which were brought in.
West Brom’s Evans had been identified as a top target for the Gunners, with Manchester City also very interested in the former United defender.
But, according to Wenger, funds simply were not made available to bring the Northern Ireland international on board last month.
In spite of the reported relegation clause in Evans’ contract, which would allow him to leave the Hawthorns for a measly £3 million if West Brom drop into the Championship, the Baggies held firm on their valuation of the 30-year-old and rejected Arsenal’s late January bid for the player.
“I said many times that we did what we wanted to do but not all that we wanted to do,” Wenger told BT Sport.
“He was not available for what we could afford.”
Wenger then referenced the financial clout of City when asked why he didn’t push majority shareholder Stan Kroenke for additional funds.
“If Kroenke gives you £200 million, Man City then get £400 million,” he added.
Reacting to Wenger’s comments on BT Sport’s coverage of the North London derby, which saw Spurs claim a 1-0 victory over their neighbours, pundits Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown simply couldn’t fathom how Arsenal would let Evans get away.
“I can’t believe they didn’t have enough money but maybe they just couldn’t meet the valuation,” ex-Gunners defender Keown said.
“Arsene Wenger did say in that interview as well that nothing’s changed, he’s still in charge.
“Obviously he didn’t want Jonny Evans that much.”
Ferdinand, who played with Evans for several years, raised a point that will be echoed by Arsenal fans as he made it clear that there is no way that a club of West Brom’s stature should be pricing a Premier League powerhouse like Arsenal out of any deal.
“Go and take him out of the club,” Ferdinand said.
“You’re Arsenal Football Club, go and take him. He’s a centre-half at West Brom, no disrespect.
“Arsenal should be going in there and taking him, whatever it takes because they needed him.”
