Sky Sports has revealed that Everton will let Mason Holgate go on loan, with the 22-year-old defender looking to make his name in the Premier League. While he did play in Everton’s first five games in the Premier League, the youngster hasn’t been in manager Marco Silva’s plans since then.
The former Watford boss used Holgate sparingly with appearances in the EFL Cup before being demoted to the U23’s. This is a massive drop from being considered as Everton’s replacement for John Stones, who now plays for Manchester City. However, the 22-year-old has made just 48 appearances for the Toffees with his career hitting the fringes under Silva.
Despite that, Holgate is still that same defender but lacks confidence at the moment which is why a loan spell would be good for him. His versatility to play across the defensive line makes him useful but it’s his comfort and intelligence with the ball makes him a valuable centre-back.
The Saints are – or rather were – struggling before the board decided to sack Mark Hughes and replace him with Ralph Hasenhuttl. The new boss ended Arsenal’s 22-game unbeaten run with a 3-2 victory at St Mary’s Stadium.
However, despite that, they looked a little shaky at the back with only Jannik Vestergaard impressing while both Jan Bednarek and even Maya Yoshida have struggled in recent games.
For Mason Holgate, it would be the perfect club to try and revitalize his career. Given the Saint’s history with developing youngsters, Holgate would certainly improve there. That said, Holgate must be careful since, under Hasenhuttl, Southampton could opt for a more experienced centre-back during the January window which may put a halt to the 22-year-old’s chances of playing regularly.
David Wagner and his men are in amidst a relegation battle with the Terriers a mere point in front of rock-bottom Fulham. They need reinforcements everywhere and that includes both defensive and attacking units. But above that, they’ve also struggled to keep clean sheets, conceding 28 goals this season in just 17 games, winning just 2 games and losing 11.
However, a club fighting for relegation would be a great place for Holgate to reinvigorate his career and find his footing in the Premier League once again. His defensive and attacking abilities would be more than welcome by Wagner as they look to push out of the relegation zone.
The Bluebirds have struggled this season but still remain outside the relegation zone with a mere two points separating them and Burnley. Neil Warnock has managed to do a decent job with the players at his disposal but the likes of Bruno Manga and Sol Bamba are on the wrong side of 30.
That’s why they need defensive reinforcements to play alongside captain Sean Morrison and bringing in Holgate to strengthen the side would be a smart move. The 22-year-old’s talent and versatility will make him a great option for Cardiff ahead of a congested fixture list in the new year. Thus, a loan move would be the perfect solution for both Everton and Cardiff City.
