West Brom manager Tony Pulis is glad the club held onto Jonny Evans, after bids from Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester were reportedly turned down this summer.

Arsenal were believed to have made a move for Evans towards the end of the summer transfer window when Shkodran Mustafi asked to leave the club. David Ornstein reported that Mustafi wanted a move to Inter Milan, but in the end both players had to remain at their current clubs.

Before that there were some rumours of pretty large bids for Evans, considering the centre-back is 29-years-old and plays for West Brom. When asked about this high valuation, Pulis responded: “We’re pleased that value is that value, and I’m even more pleased we never took [any bid],” reports Sky Sports.

“I think he’s done well here in lots of respects. He’s become a better defender. He’s always technically been a good centre-half, but he now has the responsibility of being captain will take him on again. He’s a very fit lad and Jonny has got a lot more in the tank. He’s a lad who could play well into his thirties.”

Arsenal are now relying on Mustafi to prove he was worth the Gunners spending £35m on him last summer. Jonny Evans was the subject of an Arsenal bid at the beginning of last season as well, causing some to speculate that he was Arsène Wenger’s first-choice and Mustafi was the secondary option.

The German defender has had a mixed bag of performances this season in my opinion, and it was pretty similar last season. He needs to find some consistency now. Meanwhile, Evans will face up against Manchester City tonight in the League Cup, followed by Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday.