West Brom trying to persuade in-demand captain Jonny Evans to sign new contract

The Baggies have been trying to tempt Evans into signing a new deal since the start of the summer, but are now tabling an improved one in the region of £100,000-a-week to match Grzegorz Krychowiak’s wage packet.

After fending off interest in their star defender over summer, the club are bracing themselves for more offers this January.

A whole host of clubs including both Manchester giants, Arsenal, and Everton are believed to be gearing up for a bidding war over the Northern Irishman.

Albion rejected an £18million bid from Manchester City in the summer, as well as a £23m offer from Leicester and a £25m offer from Arsenal.

They wanted at least £30m for the 29-year-old and will demand a similar amount in January, despite Evans being six months closer to the end of his contract, because of the potentially damaging impact of losing their captain mid-season.

Evans has 18 months left on his current deal, and remains committed to lifting the second-bottom Baggies out of trouble.

But he is unlikely to sign a new contract, and so Albion may decide to cash in on their prize asset in January to fund incomings for new boss Alan Pardew, especially if they can find a cheaper replacement.

Albion had a £20m bid for Ben Gibson rejected in the summer, but Middlesbrough are adamant the 24-year-old centre-back will not be sold in the New Year.

Albion are picking up all of Krychowiak’s £108,000-a-week wages during his loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Polish midfielder has been in and out of the team recently but is expected to complete his season-long loan at The Hawthorns.