Manchester United are close to reaching an agreement on a one-year contract with defender Jonny Evans, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
The 35-year-old initially joined the Red Devils on a short-term contract during the summer and was part of the squad for their pre-season tour in the United States.
Man United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has been impressed with Evans’ performance in training and sees him as a valuable and experienced defensive option.
It’s worth noting that former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once described the Northern Ireland international as ‘arguably the best defender in the country’ and expressed surprise when the club allowed him to leave after his stint at Leicester City.
Evans originally left the Red Devils in 2015 to join West Bromwich Albion before moving to Leicester City in 2018. He had been training with the club’s under-21 team earlier this summer following the expiration of his contract with Leicester.
Although he was initially signed on a short-term basis, there are discussions about extending his contract until the end of the 2023-24 season. While his initial role was to provide cover, Evans is determined to work his way into the manager’s plans.
Harry Maguire has decided to remain with the club despite receiving a £30 million bid from West Ham United. Consequently, Ten Hag may opt not to pursue another defender in this summer’s transfer window, especially with Evans remaining in the squad.
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Injuries have limited the defender’s appearances over the past two seasons, but during his five-year tenure at Leicester, he played 152 games across all competitions. He’s not content with joining United just to be a squad player.
The Red Devils made signings including Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund so far, but it remains uncertain whether they will make further additions before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.
