Newcastle United are interested in signing Everton defender Mason Holgate in January, but are being forced to wait while the Goodison Park natives search for Marco Silva’s successor, according to Football Insider.
Silva was fired last week after 18-months in charge of the Toffees, with the Merseyside outfit deciding to part company with the Portuguese after a run of two wins in 11 Premier League games left the club inside the relegation places.
They are now on the hunt to find their next full-time head coach, and the decision of whom steps up to replace Silva is likely going to have a key impact on our pursuit of Holgate.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a winter target for Steve Bruce, with club scouts keeping tabs on the versatile defender’s situation having become a key part of Everton’s backline in recent months.
Holgate was forced to wait until Matchday 10 when Everton travelled to Brighton & Hove Albion in late October to make his first start of the league campaign, after playing just 17-minutes across the opening months of the season.
He has since featured for every available minute of top-flight action, and provided assists in the Blues’ 3-2 loss at Brighton and 2-1 win away to Southampton last month.
Everton are understood to have placed a £14million asking price on the former England U21 international, who can slot in at right-back as well as his natural centre-half role.
Bruce is targeting defensive reinforcements in January in a bid to strengthen the backline at St. James’ Park, who have allowed 23 goals to be scored against us in the 16 Premier League matches played thus far.
Would you sign Holgate for £14m in January?
Yes, we need defenders
No, he isn't good enough
We are also giving up an average of 15.6 shots per game in the top-flight, the fourth-worst average in the league – only Aston Villa (19.1), Norwich City (16.6) and Arsenal (16.5) are giving up more.
Holgate is contracted to Everton on a £25,000-per-week deal until the summer of 2022, and is currently averaging 2.6 successful tackles from 3.1 attempts per 90 minutes in the league, per WhoScored data.
The Doncaster-born talent, who made 17 of his 19 Championship appearances at right-back while on loan with West Brom last season, is also currently averaging 1.2 interceptions, 3.1 clearances, 1.3 blocks and is winning 1.9 of 3.7 aerial duels in the top-flight per 90 mins.
In other Newcastle United news, a manager has addressed the recent speculation linking his 6-goal striker with a move to St. James’ Park.