West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew says Arsenal left it too late in their pursuit of Jonny Evans.
Arsenal lodged a bid for Evans’ services believed to be worth £12million on Wednesday having previously prioritised their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Pardew admitted on several occasions over the last month that West Brom would consider selling Evans, who has a £3million relegation release clause, should they receive the right offer at the right time.
But the Baggies boss claims Arsenal were well aware of his side’s likely response to a last-minute bid that came in well below their £20m asking price.
“It wasn’t for lack of warning to Arsenal and to all the clubs,” he said. “I’ve sat here every week saying ‘don’t make a bid on the last day, because you’re not going to get what you want, really’.
“Unless it’s a bid that’s going to knock us off our chair, and it was no way near that. So they [Arsenal] got probably the response they were expecting with that bid, I think.
“Jonny is a very, very important player. He is a great player. He is part of the spine of the team and that’s what I tried to strengthen this window.”