Jonny Evans ‘is close to earning a one-year deal with Man United’
Jonny Evans ‘is close to earning a one-year deal with Manchester United’ after shock return on short-term contract with the veteran defender impressing boss Erik ten Hag in pre-season
- Jonny Evans is reportedly set to extend his stay at Old Trafford for next season
- The Northern Irishman is expected to be offered a one-year deal by Man United
- Evans initially returned to United on a pre-season contract midway through July
Manchester United are reportedly set to offer Jonny Evans a one-year deal for the upcoming Premier League season after the defender returned to the club on a short-term basis.
The Northern Irishman secured a surprise reunion at Old Trafford after leaving Leicester City as a free agent at the end of the season following their relegation to the Championship.
Evans departed United in 2015 after coming through the youth system and going on to win the win the Champions League and three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Current first-team manager Erik ten Hag gave the 35-year-old a lifeline by handing him a deal for pre-season and is now willing to offer Evans a permanent one-year contract, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
Evans trained with United upon the resumption of pre-season duties at Carrington before being involved in a friendly encounter against Lyon and heading on the team’s tour of America.
Jonny Evans (right) is expected to agree a sensational one-year contract at Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has been impressed with Evans on the club’s pre-season tour of North America
He offers Premier League experience to a United defence that at times conceded heavily last season and was left short of injury cover when Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were unavailable.
Luke Shaw was frequently preferred over Harry Maguire as a makeshift centre-back and Ten Hag has apparently been impressed with Evans’ leadership qualities.
The United manager is trying to implement a new style of playing out from the back – as their capture of goalkeeper Andre Onana demonstrates – and it is believed Ten Hag feels Evans is suited to this style.
However, Evans was involved in United’s recent defeat against Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season clash Stateside that saw Ten Hag blast his players afterwards.
Meanwhile, his possible contract extension could pave the way for other defenders to leave during the ongoing transfer window.
Harry Maguire has been touted for a potential move to West Ham with United rejecting an initial bid, while Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof are others that could be shown the exit door.
Evans has so far made 356 appearances in the English top-flight during spells at United, Sunderland, West Brom and Leicester.
Evans initially returned to United on a short-term deal for the club’s pre-season tour of America
