Wales' Gemma Evans has been hailed a “world-class” defender and tipped to thrive with Manchester United in the upper echelons of the Women's Super League.
The centre-half has been linked with a move to WSL giants United following the expiry of her two-year contract with Reading. The Royals suffered relegation on the final day of the WSL season as they fell to a 3-0 loss to reigning champions Chelsea, who pipped United to the league title.
Despite relegation on her CV, the Welsh international, who has more than 50 caps, performed impressively in a backline routinely exposed. Her performances have earned her admirers from a slew of top WSL sides, with United reportedly winning the race for the 26-year-old’s signature.
And Wales manager Gemma Grainger praised Evans ahead of a potential move to the Red Devils and maintained that playing in the upper tier of the WSL and Europe is precisely where the defender belongs.
“The first day I met Gemma [Evans], the belief that I’ve had, for me she’s a world-class centre-half,” Grainger said in a press conference ahead of Wales' friendly against reigning world champions USA. “You see her against [Marie-Antoinette] Katoto when we played France in our World Cup qualifying campaign. She and Hayley [Ladd] handled her and the rest of that French front line superbly.
“I think that’s her level for me. And I want her to play at the highest level.”
United finished second in the WSL season behind Chelsea, earning them a place in next season's Champions League. While United boast a strong defensive core, the increase in competition following a summer World Cup means clubs are taking stock and bolstering ranks where required.
Reading finished the season with the worst goals conceded record in the league at 57, but Evans ranked third highest in the WSL for shots blocked (19 in total), and sixth most per 90, though she clocked 600 minutes more than five players ranked above her.
Her 3.5 clearances per 90 (58 in total) also saw her rank in the league’s top 10. Evans’ aerial prowess, tenacity and versatility in back three or four have cut her an appealing prospect for top-flight clubs.
A move to United would see Evans link up with Wales compatriot Hayley Ladd. The duo have formed a formidable centre-back partnership for Wales over the course of the last two years since Grainger’s appointment to the national team. The pair are set to test themselves against one of the most potent attacks in the world as they face reigning world champions USA in the latter’s Women’s World Cup send-off match next month in San Jose.
The USWNT are stacked with well-known strikers Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Lynn Williams, along with NWSL starlets Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson, but Grainger believes the partnership of Evans and Ladd can take on even the most fearsome of attacks.
“It’s a brilliant challenge for us,” Grainger said. "Hayley Ladd and Gemma Evans played against the French front three in the last campaign and we saw the way they handled them and for me, it’s exactly the same. How do you stop Trinity Rodman? That’s the challenge for them but I’m sure they can do it.”
