Sheffield United are interested in signing Mason Holgate from Everton this summer.
As reported by the ECHO on Monday morning, Holgate will be allowed to depart Goodison Park on either a permanent deal or on loan should a suitable offer be submitted in the current transfer window.
The 26-year-old has two years remaining on his Blues deal, but he started just five Premier League matches last season and only made four appearances under Sean Dyche after he succeeded Frank Lampard back in January.
The ECHO understands that Holgate is a player of interest for the newly-promoted Blades and that claims that talks have already commenced over a deal are, at this moment in time, wide of the mark.
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However, the Everton defender is a player well-known to Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom after the two worked together at Barnsley. Heckingbottom was a coach in the Tykes’ Academy at the time when Holgate came through the ranks and made his senior debut.
Speaking about the impact Heckingbottom had on his career, Holgate once revealed: "I have worked with Hecky since under-16s level.
"It seemed that whenever I went up an age, he did as well. He was a coach in the first team when I was there and I would say he has had the biggest impact on my career.
"I still phone and speak to him now. He watches my games, still gives me advice and tells me what I should be doing.
"When I was at Barnsley, Hecky and I used to do a lot of one-on-one work to improve my all-round game. We would watch clips together and stay behind to do extra work, all geared towards helping me get to the next level.
"I thank him for that, and Danny Wilson, who gave me my first-team debut. In lower divisions, it is hard to find a manager that will play young people.
"He gave me a chance, and I took it. He did not have to keep playing me because when I got my opportunity, it was only through injuries and suspensions. Once I did well, he kept me in. I was only 17 at that time, so for him to keep faith was encouraging."
