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Manchester United's Jonny Evans set to leave for West Bromwich Albion

Manchester United's Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans will soon join West Bromwich Albion as the two sides agreed a fee of £8 million.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Having seemed set to join Everton for much of the summer, Jonny Evans will join West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £8 million.

With Everton looking likely to keep hold of John Stones after rejecting several bids from Chelsea, and the signature of Ramiro Funes Mori, the side are less desperate to buy the defender.

Evans has been persuaded by West Brom manager Tony Pulis to join the midlands club, and it can be assumed that ex-Manchester United player, and current West Brom captain, Darren Fletcher, will have helped in the negotiations.

Evans slipped down the rankings at Manchester United under Alex Ferguson, failing to break up the partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, though there were many occasions when he appeared a long-term option in the central of defence. However, injuries, a loss of form and David Moyes made any return seem remote.

Evans was given a chance by Louis van Gaal, but never performed as well as Phil Jones, Chris Smalling or Marcos Rojo, and was part of the disastrous 4-0 defeat to MK Dons. It was his error that started the whole calamitous collapse.

Now that Daley Blind has established himself as a serious contender in the middle of defence, he is fifth in the rankings, and a move away will help him find regular games, especially as West Brom defender Joleon Lescott should soon move to Aston Villa.