Rangers bid for Evans
Monday, 17 November 2008
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Rangers are set to launch an audacious bid to add to their Northern Ireland contingent at Ibrox with a loan swoop for Jonny Evans.
Light Blues boss Walter Smith is understood to have already made an enquiry to close friend and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson about the 20-year old defender.
Ferguson has already turned down a £10 million bid from Sunderland for Evans this year and has tipped him to be the natural successor to Rio Ferdinand.
But Gers chief Smith is also on the look-out for a long term replacement for veteran defender David Weir and is keen to team Evans up with international pals Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty in Glasgow.
But with Evans forcing his way into first-team contention at Old Trafford in recent months with a string of fine performances in both the Champions League and Premier League, any move to Scotland would be short-term.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington is unlikely to call for reinforcements despite three defenders, including captain Aaron Hughes, withdrawing from the squad to face Hungary on Wednesday night.
Hughes (head injury), Gareth McAuley (hamstring) and George McCartney (foot) won't meet up with the squad today which leave only four fit defenders at Worthington's disposal.
Evans, Chris Baird, Michael Duff and Ryan McGivern are now certain to start in defence while Grant McCann has also been used at left-back during his international career.
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well said neill c, and i think the '19 year old rookie from County Cavan' as tony informs us was pretty comfortable in jonny's back pocket! Tony is just bitter that jonnys not playing in hoops.
Posted by weev | 20.11.08, 14:58 GMT
Tony I support Man United, I don't care about Rangers! who currently are European Champions, and have three talented lads from Northern Ireland in their ranks.
Posted by Neill C | 19.11.08, 10:46 GMT
you can add neil lennon to the prem failure list, what a waste of space
Posted by weev | 18.11.08, 16:23 GMT
Neill at least they have won it once, unlike the second biggest club in Glasgow!
All the same true bluenoses who recall the Laudrup/Gascoigne days must be cringing to think that they're watching a team with possibly three north of ireland players in it.
Posted by Tony Fearon | 18.11.08, 15:37 GMT
they may be the first British (ouch!) side to have won the European cup, it must be depressing to know they will NEVER win it again...
Posted by Neill C | 18.11.08, 12:22 GMT
No Stephen, they weren't the "original" winners. As Tony rightly pointed out they were "Britain's" original European Cup winners. Who'd have thought Tony would indeed highlight the club's Britishness.
Well done Tony. I'm in awe.
Posted by mickey | 18.11.08, 12:10 GMT
another weak argument from Tony, maybe you should remember that 19 year old rookie was in Evans' back pocket at Old Trafford. Talking about premiership failures how are Maloney and Samaras??
Posted by Neill C | 18.11.08, 12:10 GMT
Hello Tony - original european cup winners maybe but not 5 times winners, young Evans will have to move to get success
Posted by Stephen | 18.11.08, 11:30 GMT
Sorry Tony but if Sir Alex thinks he has a future at Utd, I think I'll take his word over yours. As for saying he hasn't got a future becuase he didn't play away to Celtic - are you serious? He is 3rd choice CB and has featured away to Chelsea when he faced a £12 million striker and in two Champions League games. He is only 20 and time is on his side
Posted by Sam Campbell | 18.11.08, 08:10 GMT
How I miss watching this lad play he has the world at his feet I wouldnt flinch paying 15m for the kid he is superb the best young defender in the world for me
Posted by david Oakley | 17.11.08, 17:35 GMT
Sorry boys, I don't see taffy Evans replacing Ferdinand or Vidic anytime soon which suggests to me he has no long term future at Old Trafford. Fergie didn't even consider using him against Britain's Original European Cup winners at Parkhead recently when he would have faced a 19 year old rookie from County Cavan
Posted by Tony Fearon | 17.11.08, 16:35 GMT
Considering Sir Alex ruled out letting him go anywhere as United lost Pique during the summer and he is already seen as 3rd choice centre back at the club I reckon this is a bit of a non-story. Going to Rangers and playing in the SPL woul dbe a step backwards in his development
Posted by RB | 17.11.08, 14:06 GMT
tony its wonderful u comment on everything to do with northern ireland.some wud say u only comment against us to start a debate about religion.davis wasnt a failure and let me guess....kenny miller was a brill player at celtic.bias
Posted by chris | 17.11.08, 14:01 GMT
Without a doubt Johnny Evans will become a united and northern ireland regular if he maintains the form he has showed latley. Alex ferguson himself has said he has a very bright future and speaks very highly of the lad.
To suggest he doesnt have a future at old trafford is a rediculous statment to make.
Posted by john mcd | 17.11.08, 13:54 GMT
Sir Alex Fergusson said in the past week or so that he sees Evans as an eventual replacement for Rio Ferdinand, currently regarded as one of the best defenders in world football.
Still, it is good to see that Tony Fearon has his finger on the pulse as usual. Tony, why are most of your comments so filled with bitterness and negativity?
Posted by Richard | 17.11.08, 13:46 GMT
Thats right Tony 'no long term future' - so why Alex turn down 10 million for him, a 1/3 of the Tevez fee? Dont let the bigotry get in the way of your football.....
Posted by Ian | 17.11.08, 13:35 GMT
Barry, it says in the first line "loan swoop". Even though I can't see him moving as he's breaking through at Man Utd at the moment.
Posted by The Real Liam | 17.11.08, 13:21 GMT
Might as well join all the premiership failures like Davis, Miller etc at Ibrox. He has no long term future at Old Trafford anyway
Posted by Tony Fearon | 17.11.08, 12:59 GMT
According to the BBC yesterday it was going to be a loan offer.
Posted by Colin | 17.11.08, 12:57 GMT
No way rangers can afford to pay for Evans if Alex Ferguson has already knocked back a £10m bid from Sunderland. A bit of a non story as I'm sure the sports journalists at the Tele know that they can't afford £10m on one player. Unless they get him on loan it's not going to happen.
Posted by Barry | 17.11.08, 12:25 GMT