Arsenal Transfer News: Jonny Evans Talk Discussed by Tony Pulis, Latest Rumours

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has not ruled out the possibility that Jonny Evans could be sold to Arsenal. 

However, the Welshman insisted he wants to keep the Northern Irishman and said the Gunners have yet to make a bid. 

Pulis rubbished rumours linking Evans with Arsenal as "pure speculation" and added that West Brom would need to find a replacement before they sold him, per MailOnline's Laurie Whitwell:

"

You don't want to lose your best players, but in football sometimes that happens. If it does happen, you need to make sure you know where your replacements are.

If Arsenal come in for Jonny, if we do any business we'll do it between the clubs. I wouldn't talk here about doing a deal with Arsenal or anybody else.

The most important thing is that Jonny is with us and we want him to stay because he's an outstanding player.

"

Whitwell added that Arsenal would have to offer more than £15 million if they wanted to sign the 28-year-old.

The Gunners are in a slightly desperate situation as they are short on centre-backs with the transfer window drawing to a close.

Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista are both sidelined through injury and are not expected to return imminently, while Laurent Koscielny is still returning to full fitness after his summer travails with France at Euro 2016.

So short are Arsenal in central defence that manager Arsene Wenger admitted he may have to gamble on Koscielny's fitness for Saturday's clash with Leicester City after the Gunners conceded four goals against Liverpool in their opening Premier League game of 2016-17, per Joe Mewis in the Mirror.

Reinforcements are needed, and Arsenal have been heavily linked with Valencia's Shkodran Mustafi, but the deal is in danger of collapsing, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

Hence the links with Evans, who has great Premier League experience at centre-back having made over 100 appearances for Manchester United before his 2015 move to the Hawthorns.

Per WhoScored.com, the Northern Ireland international is accomplished defensively and comfortable on the ball:

A player not deemed good enough to remain at United may not be exactly the calibre of centre-back Arsenal fans would like to see move to the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners are running out of time.

Early-season injuries have starkly revealed Arsenal's lack of centre-back depth, and adding an experienced player of Evans' quality would be better than not bringing in any reinforcements at all. 

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Meanwhile, midfielder Serge Gnabry is reportedly set to be sent out on loan once more after spending the first half of last season at West Brom.

According to Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas, Wenger wants the 21-year-old to sign a contract extension—his current deal runs to 2018—and German side Hertha Berlin are "expected to find out imminently whether their loan request has been accepted."

Gnabry only made one Premier League appearance for the Baggies last season, but he is impressing for Germany at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, per German football writer Cristian Nyari:

"

The Olympics MVP Serge Gnabry finally makes it 1-0!!! Beautiful goal!

— Cristian Nyari (@Cnyari) August 13, 2016"

He would get more game time at a side like Hertha, and Wenger is likely hopeful he could return from another loan spell as an improved player and then break his way into the Arsenal first team.