West Ham United and Everton have reportedly been in contact over a possible move for Mason Holgate in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by 90 min, Mason Holgate is the subject of interest from West Ham United over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Hammers are keen on signing a centre-back ahead of the 2022/23 season due to Nayef Aguerd’s long-term injury, with the Everton defender emerging as a target.
Mason Holgate spent his formative years with Barnsley before Everton picked him up seven years ago as a promising young defender. The 25-year-old has made gradual progress since then and is yet to establish himself as a mainstay at the back for the Merseyside outfit.
The versatile English defender has turned out 140 times thus far for Everton, averaging much less than 30 games per season. And while Holgate still has three years remaining in his Everton deal, the Toffees will likely let him depart from Goodison Park if a suitor submits an enticing offer. And West Ham United will look to prise him away from Everton after submitting an enquiry for him.
The Hammers were seemingly done with their central defensive recruitment this summer after securing the services of Nayef Aguerd. But the Moroccan international will have to wait a few months to make his competitive debut for West Ham United after picking up a long-term ankle injury.
The official update from West Ham on the duration of Aguerd’s absence is yet to emerge, but reports claim that he might miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That means the 26-year-old will be unavailable for most of the first half of the 2022/23 season, leaving West Ham in limbo. And with Issa Diop closing in on joining Fulham, the east Londoners need to scour the market for a central defender.
Several centre-backs, including Abdou Diallo, have thus emerged on West Ham’s radar, with Mason Holgate a viable target. The Everton defender has seven years of Premier League experience and might not take long to settle down at the London Stadium.
Holgate might also be an ideal candidate to deputise for Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson till Aguerd comes back to compete with the first-choice central defensive duo. But with West Ham only making an approach for the Everton defender, there is still some way to go before Holgate becomes the latest summer signing for the Hammers.
