Daniel Feliciano

Sat 20 January 2024 14:23, UK

Mason Holgate has seen a loan move to Sheffield United collapse after Everton demanded a £250k payment after he travelled for a medical, according to The Independent.

Writing on their website (19 January), the news outlet report that the defender was in Yorkshire for a medical afer a deal was agreed that would see his current loan at Southampton terminated to allow him to join the Blades for the rest of the season.

But after Everton demanded a payment to sanction the deal, Sheffield United pulled the plug on the deal and a move now hangs in the balance.

“Sheffield United’s loan swoop for Mason Holgate has collapsed after Everton’s last-minute demand for a bigger fee,” they wrote.

“The Toffees wanted the Blades to pay £250,000 after it was agreed the defender’s loan at Southampton would be cancelled and he would move to Bramall Lane, the PA news agency understands.

“United had also agreed to cover a portion of the 27-year-old’s wages but fourth-bottom Everton wanted a late payment as the Blades are Premier League relegation rivals.

“It saw the deal fall through – despite Holgate travelling to Yorkshire for a medical – and it remains to be seen if the move can be resurrected.”

Surprise

If Everton are willing to see Holgate’s loan move at Southampton terminated, then they will clearly be hoping to earn a bit more money from any new deal.

If Sheffield United want to sign Holgate then they can’t be expecting to seriously get him on the cheap, especially considering the fact the Toffees are very much relegation rivals to them this season.

Holgate has struggled to get a game with the Saints this season but he has plenty of Premier League experience and there is no need for Everton to agree to cut his deal short, considering there isn’t a recall clause in the deal.

It’s a shame for the player that he travelled for a medical only for the deal to fall through at the 11th hour, but Everton are entitled to ask for some cash to make it happen and with the situation they’re in financially it probably shouldn’t be a surprise.

It’s more of a shock that it got to that stage before they decided to do it, but the Toffees can’t lose in this deal currently so they may as well go for it.

In other Everton news, cut-price deal for ex-Manchester United forward eyed at Goodison Park.

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