The newly-promoted side are considering adding the experienced defender.
Burnley are considering a surprise swoop to snap up Jonny Evans on deal this summer, according to a report from Belfast
Telegraph.
Are Burnley signing Jonny Evans?
The 35-year-old played for Leicester last season but could only manage 13 Premier League appearances in total, 12 of which
were actual starts. With the Northern Irishman falling down the pecking order – and the Foxes falling down the divisions –
they opted to release the defender at the expiry of his contract after five seasons of service at the King Power Stadium.
Evans though is not currently a free agent, with his former side Manchester United having snapped him up to a short-term
agreement ahead of their pre-season tour. That arrangement though may not last into the actual campaign – although it isn’t
entirely clear how long he is actually signed to Old Trafford for.
Should United decide to let him go after they have done their work ahead of 2023/24, then it appears there could be other
suitors keen to snap him up. One such side is Burnley according to the Belfast Telegraph, with the Clarets now looking to
ensure they are fully equipped to compete in the Premier League again after their promotion.
They haven’t made a bid for him yet but do appear to be fans of the experienced ace and may consider bringing him into
their backline so that they have a knowledgable head in their squad who knows the division well.
How many games has Jonny Evans played?
There’s no questioning that Evans most certainly knows how the Premier League works and could provide invaluable
knowledge to some of the younger members of the Burnley team if he was to join. He spent seven seasons with the Red
Devils in total and racked up 131 top flight appearances for the club, winning the title on three separate occasions.
He also had over 100 outings for Leicester and can even call upon three season worth of experience with West Brom too. He
knows what it takes to compete at the very top of the division then and has plenty of time spent scrapping near the bottom of
the table too.
In total, his total gametime in the top tier stands at 356 appearances, 339 starts and 14 goals with 13 assists to boot.
Despite being 35-years-old now, Evans could certainly still offer plenty to the Burnley defence should he sign. His former
teammate Wayne Rooney, who is now in management, has recently heaped the praise on the experienced pro, calling him
“fantastic”.
He has bags of games under his belt, knows the league inside out and is clearly still highly regarded as an option at the back.
Considering that he could also be available for nothing, it could be a smart bit of business from Vincent Kompany should he
opt to add the centre-back, even if only on a short-term deal. That is though, if United decide to part ways with the centre-
back rather than keep him for themselves next season.
READ MORE:
Chelsea have Vincent Kompany to thank as Mauricio Pochettino gets much-needed boost
Chelsea have Vincent Kompany to thank as Mauricio Pochettino gets much-needed boost
Football Digest: Pochettino ruthlessly exiles three players from Chelsea HQ
Chelsea are said to be chasing a move for Brighton playmaker Moises Caicedo in their bid to add some extra quality to their
midfield ranks and reportedly saw two bids rejected earlier this month. The Seagulls are believed to be holding out for
around £100million after seeing Declan Rice join Arsenal for a nine-figure transfer fee, while they are under no immediate
pressure to sell Caicedo after he signed a new contract at the club in January.
If Chelsea fail in their efforts to land Caicedo before the summer transfer window slams shut, they could decide to
experiment by giving Ian Maatsen a go in midfield if any opportunities arise for the Dutchman to feature at first-team level.
Maatsen is a natural left-back but is perfectly capable of playing as a midfielder and has been shining for Chelsea in some of
their pre-season friendlies as of late.
The 21-year-old is known for being a versatile operator after playing in many different positions during his time in Chelsea’s
academy and excelled for Burnley last season as they cruised to the Championship title. He made 42 appearances for the
Clarets in all competitions and seemed to develop well under the guidance of Kompany, who spoke highly of the player when
quizzed on what he was bringing to the table back in January.
Leave a Reply