West Brom identify replacement for Manchester City target

West Brom will move to sign Burnley defender Ben Mee if they fail to keep hold of Jonny Evans in January, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Evans was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City at the end of the summer and Alan Pardew has conceded there is likely to be more offers for his captain in January.

The Baggies do not want to lose Evans but are preparing for his potential exit and Pardew has earmarked Burnley centre-back Mee as a transfer target if the 29-year-old does leave next month.

Mee has played an integral part in Burnley’s success in the Premier League since the start of last season and has proved there is more to the Clarets’ defence than just Michael Keane.

Pardew is hoping to take advantage of the fact that Burnley have a long-standing interest in James McClean after Sean Dyche’s side were unsuccessful with an £8m bid over the summer.

However, it remains to be seen whether Mee would trade in football at Burnley, who are flying in the top half of the table, for a West Brom side battling relegation.

Only Burnley team-mate James Tarkowski (26) has blocked more shots in Europe’s top five leagues than Mee (25) this season.