West Bromwich(WBA) vs Everton - Pulis hoping to keep hold of 'outstanding' Jonny Evans

Posted Friday, August 19, 2016 by PA

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has no desire to sell Jonny Evans but admitted the Baggies could lose their star defender.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a move to Arsenal with the Gunners in desperate need of reinforcements to boost their injury-hit defence.

Per Mertesacker and Gabriel are injured while Laurent Koscielny is not yet fully fit after France's Euro 2016 campaign, meaning rookies Calum Chambers and Rob Holding played in their 4-3 defeat to Liverpool last weekend.

Evans was outstanding in the Baggies' 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last week and, ahead of Saturday's Premier League visit of Everton, Pulis would fight to keep him.

"The most important thing is that Jonny is with us and we want him to stay because he's an outstanding player," he said.

"Last Saturday, whether it was (Andros) Townsend or (Wilfried) Zaha, and it's not Jonny's favourite position playing as a full-back, he was most probably our best player on the pitch.

"You don't want to lose your best players, but in football sometimes that happens.

"If it does happen, you need to make sure you know where your replacements are."

Albion signed Evans in a deal rising to B£8million from Manchester United last summer and he was a stand-out player for them in his first year.

He has continued his form into this season and Pulis knows he relies on the Northern Ireland international.

Pulis said: "Have look at his performance on Saturday, his performance was fantastic. He played ever so well. The thing is with Jonny, I think he could play anywhere.

"He's very well respected within the dressing room, he's a lot quieter than a Fletch (Darren Fletcher) or people like that but he does his work and he gets tremendous respect because of the way he plays."

Evans is likely to continue at left-back with Chris Brunt still out with a long-term knee injury but James Morrison is now fit following a hamstring problem which had sidelined him since January.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman is looking for an improved scoring rate from Yannick Bolasie having signed one of the Premier League's "best wingers".

Bolasie is set to make his Toffees debut against West Brom following his switch, for a reported B£25million, from Crystal Palace at the start of the week.

While producing plenty of impressive performances for Palace since their promotion to the top flight in 2013, the 27-year-old has not been a prolific scorer, netting a total of nine Premier League goals in that time.

Bolasie, whose tally in the league was four in 2014-15 then five last term, has expressed his belief he can "cause much more damage" as an Everton player.

And Koeman said of the DR Congo international: "He has a lot of strengths but he needs to improve in his productivity.

"Nine goals in three Premier League seasons is not a lot - it is too little."

Although making it clear he feels Bolasie's game needs work in terms of goalscoring, Koeman has not been short of praise more generally for his new recruit.

"He is a very important player," the Dutchman said.

"If you pay that amount of money for a player it is really an important transfer, and of course we know about his qualities.

"Really for a long time he was on my list because he is physically strong, fast and has a very good mentality. His work rate is high and he gives the team energy.

"He is one of the best wingers in the Premier League."

Bolasie says he feels "ready" to thrive at Everton and is not burdened by thoughts of his price tag.

"When people say B£25million or whatever, I just try to think 'I'm here to play football'," Bolasie said.

"I don't really put pressure on myself like that. I just try to enjoy the game.

"I think I'm in the best position to come and do well here. Last year I probably wouldn't have been ready, but I feel like I am ready to take this step.

"I was learning my trade (at Palace) and hopefully I have got most of my mistakes out of the way over there and I'll start afresh here, and fast."