West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Pardew has claimed that he gave enough warning to clubs interested in Jonny Evans that he would not be sold on deadline day.
Throughout January, both Manchester City and Arsenal were linked with a move for the Northern Ireland international, but City's acquisition of Aymeric Laporte left Arsenal as frontrunners for the centre-back.
The Gunners reportedly had a 'derisory offer' for Evans rejected on Wednesday, and Pardew has said that the North Londoners were to blame for failing to get a deal over the line.
The 56-year-old is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail: "It wasn't for lack of warning to Arsenal and to all the clubs.
"I've sat here every week saying don't make a bid on the last day, because you're not going to get what you want, really, unless it's a bid that's going to knock us off our chair. And it was no way near that.
"So they got probably the response they were expecting with that bid, I think."
Evans is said to have a clause in his contract which states that he can leave The Hawthorns for £3m if the West Midlands outfit are relegated from the Premier League.
Darren Plant
