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Leicester Target Jonny Evans Given West Brom Captaincy Amid Transfer Rumours

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West Brom have handed Jonny Evans the club captaincy in a bid to ward off interest from Premier League rivals Leicester.

Former skipper Darren Fletcher has recently left for Stoke and Evans has been subject of interest from Leicester, who are also pursuing deals for Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson and Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club manager Tony Pulis (R) and player Jonny Evans (L) attend a press conference in Hong Kong on July 18, 2017, ahead of the 2017 Premier League Asia Trophy being played on July 19 and 22. / AFP PHOTO / ISAAC LAWRENCE        (Photo credit should read ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/Getty Images)

West Bromwich Albion Football Club manager Tony Pulis (R) and player Jonny Evans (L) attend a press conference in Hong Kong on July 18, 2017, ahead of the 2017 Premier League Asia Trophy being played on July 19 and 22. / AFP PHOTO / ISAAC LAWRENCE (Photo credit should read ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Baggies have insisted the Northern Ireland international is not for sale and have given him the captain's armband in order to convince the former United man to stay at the club despite interest elsewhere.

​"Jonny has got everything," said Pulis, as quoted by ​the Leicester Mercury. 

"Irrespective of being a good defender technically he's a superb player.

"He's got the respect of the dressing room. Everyone recognises this lad is a top Premier League player.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion signs autographs while arriving at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor on May 6, 2017 in Burnley, England.  (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion signs autographs while arriving at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor on May 6, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

"With the captaincy, we had a great captain in Darren last year. I'm now giving Jonny the responsibility to keep everything in the dressing room shipshape, to step up and come and tell me if I'm out of order and he feels we should be doing something else.

"Our relationship will be very important. As a manager I have always felt the relationship with the captain is paramount to their being a good spirit in the dressing room. I know he's outspoken – he'll say what he thinks."

Evans has made 65 appearances in all competitions for West Brom since joining the club in 2015, scoring three goals and helping them finish 10th last season.

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