Daniel Feliciano

Thu 27 July 2023 16:10, UK

Everton defender Mason Holgate is a target for Southampton as they plan to replace Duje Caleta-Car following interest from Lyon, according to the Daily Mail.

Writing on their website (27 July), the Toffees central defender is being eyed up as a signing for the Saints as manager Russell Martin has identified him as a replacement for Croatia international Caleta-Car.

Lyon have made contact with the Championship club about signing 26-year-old Caleta-Car, and now Southampton want Holgate to replace him should that deal happen.

“Though Caleta-Car may be bound for a return to Ligue 1, Russell Martin has already earmarked a potential defensive replacement in Everton’s Mason Holgate,” they wrote.

Time up

Holgate has been at Everton for eight years now and he has never been able to establish himself as a first-team regular at any point, and that says a lot.

Considering all the changes we’ve seen in the defence during that time, it says plenty that he has managed to stick around but he’s quite clearly not in the manager’s plans now.

Sheffield United are also said to be interested in a deal that would see him join the Blades on loan, and Everton are open to letting him leave either permanently or on loan this summer.

It seems like it could be a deal that happens later rather than sooner with the Toffees focusing more on their incoming for the season than their outgoings as they want to ensure they’re not left short.

But Holgate’s time at the club is almost certainly up and this would represent a good chance for him to kickstart his career elsewhere while we earn some cash for it.

In other Everton news, club stance emerges as “Absolutey Fantastic” ace could leave.