Holgate being eyed up by Southampton

I do hope Mason stays at Everton and fights for his place because he has always given his all and has been very unfortunate with injury at crucial stages during several seasons.

Hardworking and versatile, he should not be sold and deserves another season at least to stake his claim.

Cue a high volume of volunteers to drive him to the south coast...

Agreed, Robert, I wish I had a ٟ for everyone of those “original” quotes I've seen about Everton players over the years.

Original quotes – someone told me Calvert-Lewin thought the minute's silence yesterday was for Vivienne Westwood – because he'd never heard of Pele.

So if we get an offer for Keane or Holgate from a relegation rival, do we sell?

Ian #5, I'd say yes... Keane & Mina too.

We have Welch & can recall Branthwaite.

Talking of transfer rumours, I haven't stopped laughing since I saw on the BBC gossip page that Aston Villa are interested in Pickford. Mind, it was in The Sun, so no doubt just a page filler on their behalf.

I think we should be cautious about this, I'd much rather see us shift Keane and Mina.

Personally, I like Holgate in a 3 and if yesterday is the sign of anything to come from us, we can't rely on Godfrey, Coady or Tarkowski being fit for the whole season.

That said, if the money on offer is good, sell and bring back Branthwaite.

Not the future really, is he?

He's okay when in a defence with Coady and Tarkowski but Keane or anyone else partnering him would spell disaster.

I think several players such as Keane, Holgate, probably Mina, Davies, Doucoure are all in that category where, if serious offers are made, we are likely to accept.

Depends on whether there is actually an offer and how much it is. We are well stocked in the centre-half department.

Knowing our luck, he would find the form he showed when Carlo offered him the new contract. I would hate to give him away for a small sum only for him to help keep Saints up.

A better player than he's allowed himself to be.

I'd rather sell Mina first and foremost but, if the Saints make a decent offer, then sell him.

Robert @2. Not with the current price of petrol I wouldn't.

Other than a series of freak injuries and suspensions, it means we have cover at centre-back. The three that started yesterday, Mina, Keane, Holgate, some youth in the U21s and others on loan. Creating some revenue and freeing up wages from here is a sensible move.

Similarly, with a couple of midfielders. We have to use this window well to bring in cover where we are weak (up front) and not let sentimentality cloud the issue.

Yesterday was a bonus point. We now have to get down to the real business of beating teams that we are competing with at the wrong end of the table.

㾼-20 million?

We should have taken the 𧴜 million Pep was wanting him for a few seasons ago.

Rob 7.

I can't see him going to Villa but I can see Kenwright more or less giving him to Spurs as Lloris is shite.

Please no.

Holgate is a very good player with exceptional pace and who can play full-back too. We have worse rubbish in our squad.

Unfortunately I guess this comes down to business.

Of the 3 we are seeking to offload:

Keane is 30 in 10 days time. I can't see us commanding much of a fee for him. He's hardly set the world alight since Burnley's accountant seen us off. Ever thankful for that Brazilian like goal against Palace though, so always a place in my heart.

Mina. He will run his contract down. Or can we con a Qatari or Saudi team into paying a fee?

So Holgate, the one I would least like to see go, might be the one that makes business sense.

As mentioned, we are pretty well stocked in that part of the pitch, especially with Branthwaite to come back.

Please tell me that's not true, Tony @4?

He's a bit like marmite. I like Holgate but understand his cockiness puts a lot of people off. He's never really had an injury-free season but he's a decent player when fit, plus he's versatile.

If we have to rid ourselves of two centre-backs, then it would have to be Keane and Mina.

Alongside Tom Davies, Mason Holgate is the biggest casualty of the last 6 years.

Some stability, and some coaching, would have seen both of these lads develop into superb players.

Instead, our scattergun approach to both managers and players have meant that both players (along with one Jonjoe Kenny) have never had the chance to flourish.

If Southampton pay a good fee, I'd be happy to see him go, and perhaps allowed at last to develop into the player our basket case of a club has never allowed him to be.

If we think Branthwaite and or Welch can step up, then sell.

If not, don't – because Mina is off in the summer and we will be looking for someone like Mason to provide coverage.

Mina and Keane should be first out to get nearly 𧶀k per week off the wage bill. This would give us more ammunition to get a quality forward player or an attacking midfielder in.

Keep Holgate for the squad unless a serious offer is made.

Holgate's footballing quality has been much exaggerated by many on here. Just because he occasionally puts his foot on the ball does not mean he can execute a lot of useful forward passes.

That said, as Tony points out, he's one of our lesser paid superfluous centre-backs and worth keeping as a squad player over the likes of Mina and Keane.

I also think Coady has been much less convincing than many Everton fans believe. His shouting and pointing and constant standing off might persuade some that he's a good defender but not me.

Tarkowski and Godfrey are first choice for me in a 2. In a 3, Coady is better though next season I'd like to see Tarkowski in the middle, flanked by Godfrey and Branthwaite. Having 2 properly mobile defenders like that in a back 3 makes a big difference.

For me, Holgate would be the player I would keep for his pace and versatility, and sell him only for a minimum of 㾾-20M.

He has had more than a few moments, but not so many as Mina, and Keane.

But money talks, and it would be interesting to see for any of these players how much Everton would accept.

But based on yesterday's performance, it's time for Frank to harness the same effort and team spirit for Brighton, and beat them.

Paul, good point about Holgate's pace. We only really have Godfrey and Holgate that can cover any ground. Add to that his versatility in being backe to cover at full back and I'd been keen to see him stay.

We cannot buy the cover he offers, so unless he's unsettled, I don't see why we'd move him on.

Danny, yes, let's hope Everton do the right business in this window and for the best good of the squad for this season. But to consolidate and build on yesterday and beat Brighton, tomorrow.

Forty years ago, the return from the lost years started; very small steps were taken and made but momentum was steady and I'm convinced that there's massive stakes for the remainder of this season for Everton.

Fuck the media and the rest.

Next game counts, UTFTs!

He isn't going to be more than a squad player for us. On that basis, a good offer means he goes… and if it helps us strengthen where we need to, I'm all for it.

He looks really good in flashes, but lacks the consistency you need at centre-back. He may prosper elsewhere, where he doesn't get a different coach every year.

If he stays, we've got a decent squad player. If he does go, he'll go with my best wishes.

Danny, lol,

I meant Tuesday, v Brighton. My body clock is mixed up – today feels like Monday more than Sunday.

🍺🍺👍⚽️

I agree with Paul @24 but I have to say, with good reason I think, that seeing his name on the team sheets gives me the horrors every time as I wonder what he will do next in terms of giving the opposition a goal.

Because of this news the answer, to avoid such lapses, is sell if Southampton make a decent offer.

Elye Wahi at Montpellier is the latest striker we are being linked with, anyone watched him?

From what I've read he looks like an exciting prospect, goal stats are impressive for a young player.

Tony @30,

Who? – and would he be in the bargain basement?

That would be the only reason for us to get excited.

Personally I'd keep Holgate for the rest of the season but let Keane and Mina go for anything we can get for them, but not to anybody below Villa in the table (appreciate Mina wouldn't go to one of those clubs!).

That should take about ٢M off the wage bill for the rest of the season and, in my view, no need to spend to replace them as Holgate can provide cover, along with the youngsters.

He's just seen Godfrey cruise past him into a starting role after a long injury lay-off (which didn't surprise me). And, if the rumours of Coady signing in January are accurate, then he must realise he may be better off elsewhere.

Mina and Keane may be much more inclined to play out their contracts. I don't personally know any of them, so this is pure speculation, but if the main aim is simply to free up some money, I doubt EFC has full control over who will actually end up talking to other clubs.

Tony @30,

We'd never sign him, mate… even at 19 they'll want 㿊M for him.

Tony, I haven't seen the Wahi rumours but he's a really big talent with, unusually for one so young, plenty of end product.

Sekou Mara joined Saints for about 㾸M, I think. Similar profile of player and selling club but Wahi is definitely the better player by some margin. The fee would probably be bigger but I'd be surprised if it was much more than 㿀M.

However, like Sekou Mara at Saints, this is a talent that still needs development. He could be hit and miss for 18 months or so (as Onana might be).

Some fans may prefer someone like the more mature but very mediocre Gyökeres.

However, track forward 18 months and we could have a genuine Champions League quality player.

Robert @35,

Mara's market value was about ٢m when Soton paid 㾸m for him... 3 times his MV.

This lad at Montpellier has an MV of about 㾻m now with 2 years left on his contract. If sold it'll be for daft money especially to our league and if he keeps scoring. If he comes to the EPL it'll be for 㿊 - 㿔m.

Whatever the market value, you may as well triple that price for the Premier League... we're paying nearly 4 times Onana's quoted market value at the time.

Kudus will probably cost Barca about €50m.

You might be right, Iain, but we'll see.

One thing in our favour is that Montpellier are less well resourced than Bordeaux (Mara) or Ajax (Kudus) or Lille (Onana).

I'd expect the fee to be more like that pending for 'the new Henry' Ekitike (currently on loan at PSG from Reims) - which is I think about 㿀M-ish. Which is also coincidentally the same as Rennes paid PSG for Kalimuendo (pretty similar profile to Wahi).

The price will go up if there are other serious bidders though, of course. But fingers crossed.

A strike force of Wahi, Simms, Calvert-Lewin and Maupay should see us safe and offer genuine depth and quality for the future.

It's never down to us as fans to decide who comes or who goes unfortunately, as I think between us we could have saved the club a fortune and had a decent squad with the money that has been profligated.

However, I will join in the fun and certainly be in the camp of getting rid of as much deadwood as possible, Holgate, Keane, Mina (unfortunately) and Davies, all fall into that category.

The City game showed us we have a decent nucleus but, if any injuries occur, we have little in the way of quality to replace. I wish Frank would encourage more youngsters both on the bench and give them cameos to play to see if they have what it takes.

Not getting too carried away but Tuesday night will tell us if we are now out of the doldrums and heading up the Table rather than down it.

This guy from Montpellier, was he in the good, the bad and the ugly?

With Simms being recalled, it seems a good tactic, stops other clubs having us over a barrel.

If we manage a striker, Simms will be sent back on loan. If we really are strapped for cash, then Simms might be the only incoming striker.

With the trusty old Gilbert O'Sullivan, alone again naturally.

Tony, no need for anyone to drive him there, Southampton can put him on their bus 14 January.

What it comes down to is the kind of team we're trying to build here... a team that can challenge for the Champions League in a year or two... a team that can really play.

That ain't Mason Holgate.

I have grudgingly come around to the view that he's a pretty good defender. He always had the pace and the tackles, and now he has developed aerial confidence and intelligence as well.

But the fact is that Holgate cannot pass a ball. He has made ONE really good pass in his entire Everton career. 145 games, one great pass, the through ball to Dom for the goal at Brighton in 2019. He had never done it before. He never did it again.

Take the money.

Mike Gaynes

Obviously Holgate is fairly shite. But given our financial constraints, whilst obviously he's not Champions League quality, my worry is that, if he leaves, as will Mina in June and quite possibly Keane, we will be searching for a low cost ٣ million replacement as back up for Coady and Godfrey.

Given that we always pay two or three times what a player is worth, I worry our budget will only extend to someone worse than Holgate. If Branthwaite or Welch prove themselves better than, yeah, get rid. But as of now, neither one seems as good as, much less better than Holgate, even with the bar set so low.

Given our rumoured financial position, it would make sense to sell (perhaps transfer out is a better expression) at the right price.

As for this season, we have Coady, Tarkowski, Mina, Keane and Godfrey and if, say, Mina and Keane moved on at the end of the season, Branthwaite then becomes part of the squad and possibly also Welch which seems more than useful cover for central defence. And it has been said that Mykolenko can play there if desperate.

Does make you wonder how the expression "deadwood" came into use and the wage bill take up so much of the revenue, eh? I mean, we do have an Accountant at the club at least 5% of the time and under the Strategic Review this could come under "Football Operations", couldn't it?

I've never been a massive fan of Holgate myself but he is a useful squad member. And Whilst I'm fully in favour of shifting many more underperforming, over rated players on, we are in no position to weaken the squad without replacing them.

Keane is definitely off this window, Mina at the end of the season (no-one will come in for him now and we can't rely on him as back-up) so we need Holgate for the remainder of this campaign. I think the summer is a better time to sell unless the offer is too good to turn down.

Hopefully selling Keane and maybe Doucouré can raise enough funds to get in one permanent and one loan in the attacking area. One last try for Kudus in a structured deal as there's no doubt he'll cost big money now.

Then a centre-forward on loan from the continent as I can't think of any decent Premier League strikers that will be available. And pray that Calvert-Lewin can get 15 games injury-free.

Sell Holgate and Davies and get Ndiaye from Sheffield United, an attacking midfielder with good stats of goals and assists, plus a striker.

Brian W @ 39,

I have just watched the whole of The Good, The Bad and The Downright Coyote Ugly, and you may well be right!

There is a scene where a donkey is tethered to a hitching post, so that could be the one we are keeping not only a close eye on but have a nosebag at the ready, just in case! :-)

Given our position of being true relegation contenders, if we can actually get 㾻 million for Holgate, I don't see how we don't take it?

I assume we then put that money towards someone who can consistently score, assist or strike fear in other teams' defenses.

Sure, he'd be great cover now and in the future. And sure, like others have noted, he may come good with an actual run of games and stability at a different club (or our own). But we can't be choosy right now. We need goals and we'll likely have to overpay.

Branthwaite has shown himself good enough, so recall him and take the money if it comes. Then go ahead and overpay for someone with more end product than Maupay, McNeil and Gordon, which can't be that difficult to find for 㿅-30 million.

Jonathon (46),

I wouldn't sell Holgate, I think he will be needed in the fight to stay up and 㾻M is far too cheap at today's transfer fees.

I'd prefer Michael Keane and Mina gone before Holgate, although we will get nothing for Mina which is a shame considering the money he has made out of the club giving little back in return.

I've just read on various links that Keane is valued at 㿊 million!I don't know what he's worth, but it's certainly not the above unless there is another Moshiri out there!

Another stumbling block is the contract he is on with us – very good money that a lot of clubs won't match...

Probably be a loan if it happens. Surely we won't let both Holgate and Keane leave without an incoming?

Unless you replace him with a youngster coming through, knowing Everton, the fee we'd get for him would be less than what he'd cost to replace.

As several have said before me, I can think of two defenders I'd sell before I'd let Holgate go.

Holgate is 26 and last season performed well but I think Lampard sees Coady and Tarkowski, at 29 and 30 respectively, has his first choice, with Godfrey as back-up.

I am sure that Holgate would relish a move to give him regular first-team football, but Mina will be gone in the summer when his contract is up, and also Keane is attracting interest from Fulham and West Ham… so – given both of these will leave – why sell Holgate?

If it's Southampton and West Ham (or any other relegation rival) trying to buy Holgate and Keane, then it's got to be for half-decent money – 㾻M each or walk away and worry in the summer.

If, by some miracle, we can sell both, then recall Branthwaite and use the ~㿊M for both Brereton Diaz and Gyökeres if we can (or find a way of funding!). Then focus on a specialist right-sided attacker, on loan if needed.

Personally I'd see if the “Magic Man” Gerry Deulofeu fancies a return, but sure even our scouts (or the cooler scouting posters on here) could come up with something a little more inventive!

GK - Pickford / Begovic
RB - Patterson / Coleman
CB - Coady / Godfrey / Mina
CB - Tarkowski / Branthwaite / Welch
LB - Mykolenko / Vinagre
CM - Onana / Garner
CM - Gana / Doucoure / Price
CM - Iwobi / Davies
LA - Brereton Diaz / Gray / McNeil
CF - Calvert-Lewin / Gyökeres / Simms
RA - Maupay / Gordon / Deulofeu

Plenty of options there. If a mega-bid comes in for Gordon or Pickford (I can actually see Spurs flapping with Conte) then maybe the luxury of going for quality rather than quantity for once.

The one player we don't sell is the one who saved us last season and the one who is irreplaceable this season and probably the next few seasons: Pickford.

If Michael Keane is going to West Ham, somebody must have showed Moyes his goal against Palace last May.

He's the next Bergkamp, Davie, hurry up mate!

Thanks, Michael, it's a goal that's up there with the finest Everton goals of all time. 💙

I will be surprised if Holgate leaves in this window. Keane is clearly behind him in the pecking order and it appears that there are a couple of clubs interested in him so he will go.

Mina cannot be counted on and so Holgate joins Godfrey as backup for Coady and Tarkowski. It is hardly a concern that he is not Champions League standard.

Dave 47,

I agree and I think most others on here would agree that Keane and Mina go before Holgate, but it's hard for me to believe the numbers being thrown about.

Mina's contract is up in the summer so unless you're getting ٣ million or more, I'd keep him just for those few times he is healthy. Keane can certainly go, but I'd be shocked if we got more than 㾶 million for him.

Which leaves Holgate, who could likely command a higher fee, given his age. But again I'd be shocked if we got 㾻 million for him.

Sure the fees in the Premier League are absurd, but we're talking about a back-up unlikely to get time at one of the worst clubs in the Premier League. If we can get that fee for him, and if that money can be reinvested, then keeping someone for cover when we're as bad offensively as we are seems like the wrong move to me.

As for others, unless the money is outrageous for Pickford, like more than 㿭 million, we'd be foolish to sell. He's our best player. Gordon is a bit more complicated, but I think you'd find agreement on here that anything over 㿔 million we'd be fools not to accept — but no-one is paying that now with his start to the season.

I'd rather keep Holgate over Mina and Keane because he's cheaper. Other than that, they are all similar and ultimately not good enough to get Everton into the top half of the Premier League.

Mina is the best, but playing 5 games a season is a joke; we should have binned him a year ago.

Keane is so slow, so inconsistent… also had several injuries, gives the ball away too frequently and cheaply.

Holgate lacks strength and awareness and is a slightly faster version of Keane.

3 for 1, anyone?

Mina has been quite possibly our worst-ever signing. Wages and fee send his total cost to around 㿨M.

He's one of those players who gets better every time he doesn't play. If he didn't make so many howlers on the rare occasions he does play, he'd be Bobby Moore by now.

One-dimensional, he hasn't ever learned to play anywhere else – except on his heels.

Why would he leave? He gets paid north of ٤M a year to tell a few jokes and do a few daft-arsed dances.