According to reports in the Express and Star, Everton failed with a late attempt in the January transfer window to bring West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans to Goodison Park, before they eventually completed a deal for Manchester City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala before the 11pm deadline on Wednesday.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Northern Ireland international had been widely expected to leave the Hawthorns during the month after turning down the chance to sign a new contract, with the Toffees, Arsenal and Manchester City among the clubs interested in the 30-year-old.

The Express and Star says that the Merseyside outfit and City’s late interest in the centre-back was rebuffed however, while the Gunners saw a £12m bid for Evans rejected on deadline day.

It didn’t matter in the end for Everton though, as Sam Allardyce secured a move that saw Mangala move to Goodison Park on loan until the end of the season.

Would missing out on Evans have been a blow?

A little, yes.

Everton have been short of a left-sided centre-back and at left-back this season with Cuco Martina filling in for the injured Leighton Baines, and the fact that Evans is left-footed and has played at left-back at times for West Brom suggested he could be the perfect buy.

Sam Allardyce may return for the 30-year-old in the summer with reports suggesting that he could be available for just £3m if West Brom, who currently lie bottom of the Premier League, suffer relegation to the Championship.

However, while it would have been a minor blow to the Merseyside outfit, they would have been delighted to have secured a player of Mangala’s quality and experience until the end of the season as they look to secure a top-seven finish in the Premier League.