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LONDON. — Arsenal have been quoted a staggering £25 million for West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans as their search for a centre back stalls. Albion boss Tony Pulis paid less than a quarter of that sum for the 28-year-old last summer when Evans signed a four-year contract.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger saw the Northern Ireland defender, who went to The Hawthorns after his first-team chances at Manchester United dried up, as a realistic option if his attempts to sign Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi fail.

Germany defender Mustafi is keen to leave Spain for London and has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but Valencia are adamant they will not let him go for anything less than his £42m release clause. But Valencia have confirmed that Mustafi is not for sale.

The German international has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates as Wenger looks for defensive reinforcements. — The Daily Mail.