Nottingham Forest have been linked with an interest in Everton defender Mason Holgate, but face a transfer battle with newly promoted Sheffield United for his signature.
The 26-year-old struggled for game time at Goodison Park last season, making just eight appearances in the Premier League. He found game time difficult under both former boss Frank Lampard and current Toffees’ manager Sean Dyche.
According to the Sun , the defender is available on a loan deal this summer as Everton look to cut their wage bill amid financial concerns. Forest are named as one of the clubs interested, alongside Sheffield United.
It’s not the first time that the Reds have been linked with an interest in Holgate. The defender was named as one player that they were ‘considering’ back in the January transfer window as Steve Cooper looked to bolster his defence.
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Any potential deal may have been scuppered by Everton’s decision to sack Lampard and replace him with Dyche. The new manager taking time to assess his squad before making any decisions.
It now seems that the defender could now complete a transfer this summer. He would add to Forest’s defensive numbers if he were to complete a move to the City Ground.
The report does, however, add that Forest will be looking to complete outgoing transfers before bringing anyone into the club. A busy transfer window this time last year saw over 20 new faces arrive at the club.
Sheffield United are also keen to add to their squad this summer following promotion to the Premier League last season. Holgate would add some experience of the league into Paul Heckingbottom’s squad.
The defender has a total of 126 appearances in the Premier League after breaking into the Everton squad in the 2016/17 season. He moved to Everton from Barnsley in the summer of 2015, and spent six months on loan with West Bromwich Albion between January and May 2019.
