Jonty Banks

Fri 28 April 2023 17:40, UK

Sean Dyche is expected to ring the changes in his Everton squad this summer and one player whose place at the club is seriously under threat is Mason Holgate.

The Toffees centre-back made just his sixth start of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace last weekend (22 April), but it ended in calamitous style as he was sent off for picking up his second yellow card with 80 minutes on the clock.

Although Dyche’s side managed to hang on and take a point from the clash at Selhurst Park, the Englishman did his long-term future at Goodison Park no good whatsoever.

Under both Frank Lampard and Dyche, Holgate has been placed down the bottom of the Everton pecking order, with the likes of James Tarkowski, Connor Coady, Ben Godfrey and lately Michael Keane all preferred in the heart of the club’s defence.

Considering his lack of minutes, plus his poor injury record over a number of seasons, a summer departure must be considered by the Toffees.

In the January window, Premier League rivals Leeds United made a transfer enquiry into Holgate in a bid to bolster their defensive ranks, with French outfit Lyon also reportedly keen. [The Sun, 23 December]

If either side were to revive their interest in the Englishman, Everton could look to offload the defender and free up some money for further summer transfer activity.

Leeds, in particular, are likely to look for further defensive reinforcements this summer, having conceded a total of 63 goals from 33 games – the joint-worst record in the league alongside Bournemouth.

From Dyche’s perspective, a centre-forward, a creative midfielder and options at full-back are definitely going to be on his shopping list at the end of the season, and players such as Holgate and fellow centre-back Yerry Mina could be deemed expendable players to accommodate these changes.

Although Holgate has spent eight seasons at Goodison Park, Everton should make the ruthless call and look to sell the defender this summer.