Loan star Jonny on United’s wish list

May 16 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United are interested in stealing Jonny Evans from under Sunderland’s nose if he is made available for transfer this summer.

Kevin Keegan is in the market for defensive reinforcements and, while Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne, who has been made available for transfer in preparation for a new regime taking over at Eastlands, remains high on the manager’s preference list Evans has emerged as another serious summer target for United.

Having signed him on loan twice in the last two seasons Sunderland are also in the race to capture the highly-rated 20-year-old.

But The Journal understands that Newcastle have been paying close attention to his displays at the Stadium of Light and, after being handed several glowing reports of his progress, they are prepared to firm up their interest if Manchester United decide to sell Evans or make him available on loan once more.

The Northern Ireland international certainly fits the blueprint of the young, up-and-coming players that owner Mike Ashley wants the club to concentrate their recruitment efforts on – and with a value in the region of £7m he would not wipe out United’s transfer fund.

Dunne is another option for Newcastle,

and was one of only a handful of players on the list of transfer targets that Keegan took to his initial meetings with Executive Director (Football) Dennis Wise.

But if Evans is made available either on loan or permanently Newcastle would be interested in a player who proved his Premier League pedigree during the Black Cats’ successful fight against the drop this season.

A further complication for both clubs may yet emerge, however, with Barcelona refusing to relinquish their interest in Manchester United’s Spanish prospect Gerard Pique.

Reports in Spain yesterday claimed the Catalan giants are on the verge of re-signing the 20-year-old after the Champions League final, something that would make it even more difficult for any potential suitors to prise Evans from Old Trafford. For his part Evans would certainly be receptive to remaining in the North East if he was made available. It is where his girlfriend studies and he has settled well in the area during two separate loan spells at the Stadium of Light.

Despite his tender years the defender is a popular and influential member of the Sunderland dressing room, but he is also keen not to be seen to be agitating for a move away from Old Trafford.

Evans has now returned to Manchester United, where he will await a decision on his future later in the summer, with the player admitting the situation is “out of his control”.

“I’m not in control at all of what happens now,” he said. “I will just go back to Man United and keep my head down. You are not really in control of anything that goes on when you are under contract.

“If any club wants to bid for me, it is up to them and Man United to decide what happens. I don’t know what is going to happen and I won’t be knocking on Sir Alex Ferguson’s door asking questions because he is in charge and I’m sure he’ll let me know what’s happening.” While scouring the country for fresh young talent the future of one of Newcastle’s own up-and-coming stars still apparently hangs in the balance.

Charles N’Zogbia, who wanted to leave St James’s Park in the January transfer window, has been widely tipped to depart in the summer but the Frenchman has insisted he is happy at Newcastle.

N’Zogbia featured in the last two games of the season and could yet find a way back into the picture at St James’s Park. “I am happy at Newcastle United and, to tell the truth, I have always been,” he said.

“At the moment, all I am concentrating on in playing for the French Under-21 squad in Sweden at the end of this month and then, like the rest of the Newcastle squad, looking at what players we are going to get in the close season.”