Everton eye Evans signature as Van Gaal prepares to wield axe

Everton are planning to raid Manchester United for Jonny Evans’ summer signature in the coming months, as unforgiving Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal prepares to offload several of his under-performing players when the season finishes.

Roberto Martinez will be keen to bolster the Toffees’ defensive options for next term, after enduring a slight domestic decline earlier in the year, a drop in form which saw the Merseysiders stumble dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone.

Although, Everton will now go into the final day of the current campaign knowing a substantial victory over Tottenham at Goodison Park (11/8 to win) would secure a top 10 finish, a target that seemed to be slipping out of their grasp previously.

United boss Van Gaal recently declared at the club’s awards ceremony that some players are set to have a rough summer, with Evans one of those linked with a departure.

“It shall be a rough summer for some of the players but I think a club like Manchester United has to be like that,” stated Van Gaal.

“Of course it’s always like that. I don’t think you have to keep the whole selection – when you purchase others players you get another stimulus also.”

Northern Ireland international centre back Evans is reportedly high on Martinez’s summer wish list, with the Spanish manager hoping to blood further experience and quality into his rearguard, after a stuttering season from current ageing defenders Sylvain Distin, Phil Jagielka and Tony Hibbert.

United’s out-of-favour centre back could potentially be a strong signing on the blue half of Merseyside, as he possesses plenty of top-flight and European experience from his nine seasons at Old Trafford, having come through their impressive youth set-up.