The Athletic’s David Ornstein has issued an Everton January transfer window update in his latest Monday round-up (subscription needed) after speaking about Mason Holgate’s future.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Ornstein has revealed that the £14m-rated defender is being watched by Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Newcastle United ahead of the New Year, with the aforementioned trio keen on the 23-year-old’s ability to play in a back three.
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However, The Athletic correspondent says that the Toffees are reluctant to sell, which is no surprise given how impressive he has been on occasions in recent weeks having got a consistent chance in the Merseyside outfit’s starting XI – he even shone in an unfamiliar central midfield role in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, drawing praise from the Goodison Park faithful on Twitter.
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Ornstein added that rather than selling a centre-back given they only really have Holgate, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane to choose from right now, director of football Marcel Brands would instead be targeting a new one in January.
Sensible
Everton are clearly short in depth in that area anyway, but the fact that Mina wasn’t fit to face Chelsea showed just how few options they have in that particular position.
It would be madness to consider selling Holgate in that respect, but some of the form he has shown in recent weeks should completely rule it out altogether anyway.
He was absolutely outstanding alongside Tom Davies at Old Trafford, having two shots as well as making one tackle, one interception and three clearances, as per WhoScored.
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This was a sign of his versatility too, and it was no surprise that Duncan Ferguson was full of praise for him post-match, labelling him as “a real leader now”.
He is finally living up to the potential he clearly had, and it’s good to see him finally making a big impression in a blue shirt.
If he keeps this up, he may even be the one who has a new defensive partner alongside him by the end of January – if Everton can get a deal done for a centre-back – rather than it being Keane or Mina.
In other Everton news, The Athletic dropped a bombshell about the club and Moise Kean in the aftermath of Sunday…