Marco Silva’s Everton side loaned out Mason Holgate to West Bromwich Albion, but there were hopes he could make an impact at Goodison Park this term.
Silva has now gone on record to state that Everton need a new right-back, as he cannot go into the season with Seamus Coleman being his only option in the position.
“In this moment, and since Jonjoe went on loan to Schalke, it has been a position we want strengthen,” he said.
“You cannot go through a tough competition like the Premier League with just Seamus Coleman.”
The comments could serve as a blow to Holgate, who would have been hoping to break back into Everton’s team.
Holgate was loaned out by Everton to West Bromwich Albion last season, and he caught the eye at Championship level.
The £2 million signing (Yorkshire Evening Post) would have been hoping to come back to Everton and break into their first-team, but for him not to even be considered for the right-back slot is a blow.
Holgate is a more natural centre-back, but he played on the right hand side of defence for the duration of his time at West Brom, and generally impressed.
If Silva does see him as a central defender at Everton, then his chances of forcing his way into the team still don’t look great.
The Toffees are trying to buy another central defender, and the already have Michael Keane and Yerry Mina at the club.
It means that Holgate could go into the campaign as fourth choice centre-back and third choice right-back, and it could be that the 22-year-old has to sit on the bench for much of the campaign, unless things change drastically.
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