Jonny Evans has made it clear to West Bromwich Albion that he wants to leave The Hawthorns this month.

Evans, who has just turned 30, has been told by West Brom that they are prepared to make him the highest paid player in their history – but the Northern Irish star is not keen to sign fresh terms.

Manchester City failed in their efforts to land him last summer, but they are ready to return with an offer this month, but Arsenal are ready to join the bidding – whilst former club Manchester United are also keeping abreast of the situation.

City boss Pep Guardiola wants a new centre-half to bolster his squad and Evans is very much again in his thinking, along with Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez and Samuel Utiti of Barcelona.

I understand from sources that Evans would ideally like to move back to the North West – meaning City would be his preferred destination, although he would not shun a move to Arsenal either, and would be more than happy to join The Gunners.

Bookmakers firmly believe City are in the driving seat with BetVictor listing them as 4/5 favourites to land him – that is a probability of more than 50%.

BetVictor’s Head of the ante post Football Michael Triffitt said: “Manchester City remain odds on favourites at 4/5 to capture West Brom defender Jonny Evans.

“It’s no secret the Citizens are looking for defensive cover and despite their free scoring season they often still look vulnerable at the back. Arsenal are another team interested have been supported into 3/1 from 6/1. With defeat yesterday in the FA Cup at Forest, where they shipped in four goals, they look in need of some steal to shore things up.

“It’s 12/1 bar the front two and we await with interest how developments start to unfold.”