A Former Manchester United Player Could Be Set For A Shock Return

Following the news that Eric Bailly will require surgery on an ankle injury picked up during international duty with the Ivory Coast, Manchester United may be forced into a January transfer window move for another defender.

And it could mean an unexpected return to Old Trafford for a former player.

It is being reported in the Mirror that the Red Devils are weighing up a move for West Bromwich Albion centre-half Jonny Evans, who was sold by United to the Midlands club two-and-a-half years ago for just £6 million by former manager Louis van Gaal.

Evans has since established himself as one of the most reliable centre-halves in the Premier League and has attracted the attention of both Arsenal and Manchester City, this year, with league leaders City failing with an £18 million bid for the Northern Ireland international, this summer.

Bailly

Bailly could be facing up to at least three months on the sidelines after injuring his ankle during a recent international trip with the Ivory Coast. Image: PA

Evans made 198 appearances for United during his seven seasons as part of the United first team, winning three Premier League titles, two League Cups and a FIFA World Club Cup.

Evans made almost 200 appearances for United during his seven seasons in the Red Devils' first team. He lifted three Premier League titles and two League Cups during that time. Image: PA

Despite often being derided by opposition fans and not entirely trusted by some sections of United's support during his time with the club, Evans was often a reliable performer at the heart of defence and has continued to display said reliability during his two-and-a-half years at the Hawthorns.

The 29-year-old would likely command a fee in the region of £25-30 million, but with Jose Mourinho's options at centre-half featuring mainly injury prone defenders and a still as yet unproven Victor Lindelof, it may be a wise investment to bring Evans back in.

(H/T The Mirror)

Topics: Football News, Football, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Premier League

Joe Baiamonte

Northerner. Assistant Editor of SPORTbible. Studied Journalism and Broadcasting in a portakabin on a car park of Salford University for three years. Believes football peaked with Serie A in the '90s and strong-arms pro wrestling references into as many articles as possible. Neymar once took 50 euros off me during a game of poker.

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