Jonny Evans has turned 30; does this mean that Arsenal will cool their interest in the West Brom centre-back?

Arsenal, as well as Manchester City, have been linked with a move for West Brom captain Jonny Evans. However, now that he’s turned 30, would the Gunners really be willing to part with £30m?

Former Baggies boss, Tony Pulis, claimed at the end of the summer transfer window that both City and Arsenal put in offers for the Northern Ireland international but neither were willing to meet his valuation.

With Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk signing for Liverpool, both clubs, who were also linked with the Dutchman, are once again said to be focused on signing Evans.

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United at The Hawthorns on November 28, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

However, while Arsenal do need a centre-back, signing an ageing one might not be a great idea.

Per Mertesacker, 33, steps down from his role as the Gunners’ skipper at the end of this season in order to become head of the academy, and Laurent Koscielny, 32, is looking further and further away from the centre-back he used to be.

Calum Chambers, 22, and Rob Holding, 22, are perhaps a little too young to be Arsenal’s first choice centre-backs at the moment, which means that Arsenal need to sign back-up in that area that’s experienced but not drifting into the final stages of his career.

For a centre-back, 30 isn’t massively old, so perhaps there is a chance that Arsenal could still move for Evans. Even if he is £30m. However, if the club are building for the future, this would seem like an odd decision.