Monaco and OGC Nice have joined Newcastle United in the race to sign Mason Holgate on loan in the January transfer window, with Everton now open to offers for the defender.
That’s according to The Sun, who report Holgate wants to play regular first-team football over the second-half of the season. Rafa Benitez has rarely trusted the 25-year-old since he took charge at Goodison Park last June, with just 10 appearances across all competitions.
Holgate has been in-and-out of Benitez’s plans since the former Newcastle gaffer replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Everton. But he has opened their last three Premier League matches in a disjointed run impacted by fixture postponements over Christmas.
Benitez showed in the FA Cup at Hull City on Saturday that Holgate remains firmly down his pecking order, however. The Spaniard started Seamus Coleman as his right-sided centre-back in a back-three with natural options Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey.
Holgate has seen enough during Benitez’s first six-months in charge to believe he is better served leaving Everton in January. And the Toffees are open to offers, which may include permanent bids for their £2m arrival from Barnsley in 2015.
Newcastle want Holgate, but only in loan transfer from Everton
Newcastle are among the clubs monitoring Holgate’s situation, with the centre-half on boss Eddie Howe’s defensive transfer shortlist. But the Magpies are only interested in signing the former England U21 international on loan in the January sales.
Monaco and Nice have also joined Newcastle in considering contacting Everton to discuss a temporary transfer to France for Holgate. Sky Sports noted the Doncaster-born dynamo – who can also play in midfield or at full-back – was on the Magpies’ shopping list last month.
Holgate would return to Merseyside at the end of any six-month loan away from Goodison. He is under contract with the Toffees until 2025 on a £64k-a-week deal penned in 2020.
The defender earned his extension after impressing under Ancelotti, who was full of praise.
“He has the quality to be at the top as a defender,” the Real Madrid manager told Everton’s website. “He is fast, strong physically and good with his head – he is a complete defender.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
