Manchester United defender Evans linked with £12m Barcelona switch

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Jonny Evans is being lined-up for a stunning summer exit from Manchester United with the Northern Ireland defender swapping Old Trafford for Spain.

Evans last night emerged as a target for European champions Barcelona and it is believed that the Spanish giants are ready to tempt United with a £12m offer for the 21-year-old.

United manager Ferguson turned down a £10m offer for Evans from then Sunderland manager Roy Keane this time last year.

How tempted he would be to collect just £2m more 12 months later for a player who enhanced his already growing reputation during his 30 appearances last season remains to be seen.

Nou Camp boss Pep Guardiola is understood to have turned his attentions to Evans after being told that there was no chance of a move for United’s Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic being successful.

In May, Evans was on the bench as United lost to Barca in the Champions League final. It was against Spain that Evans made his Northern Ireland debut three years ago, when just 18.

Evans is expected to win his 18th cap in next Wednesday’s friendly against Israel at Windsor Park - and he could do so as a Barcelona player.

Although Barca won the Spanish League and Cup as well as the Champions League last season, they have been left behind in the summer spending stakes by Madrid.

Since Florentino Perez returned as President of Real they have splashed out £80m on Ronaldo, £68m on Brazilian star Kaka, £30m for Karim Benzema, £13m on Raul Albiol as well as paying Liverpool £3.5m for Alvaro Arbeloa just last week.

The capture of Alonso will take their summer spending to over £200m, while Barca have signed only Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a deal worth £60m.

Sourced from: The Belfast Telegraph