England boss Gareth Southgate has watched Everton defender Mason Holgate in action during our last three Premier League games, according to Football Insider.
Southgate and his Three Lions coaching team are said to have watched Holgate’s performances against West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City, suggesting the 23-year-old is in contention for his senior international debut.
Holgate last represented England in June 2017 as Aidy Boothroyd’s Under 21s lost on penalties to Germany at the U21 European Championship, in what was the Blues ace’s sixth outing at that level.
The Doncaster-born centre-half had featured on the U20 scene seven times prior to his U21 debut, including starts against the Czech Republic, Turkey, France and Canada.
Southgate and his team would have seen Holgate make four successful tackles against West Ham on Saturday, after penning one against Brighton and Man City respectively. He also recorded two, three and one interceptions over the three games, along with five, seven and three clearances plus an 89.3%, 90.6% and 85% pass completion rate.
Is Holgate ready for his senior England debut?
Yes
No
Holgate’s performances have not only attracted international attention, though, as Football Insider add that Everton have rejected two offers this month for the rising star boss Carlo Ancelotti is reticent to lose.
It is not claimed who has made the approaches for our 6 ft 1 defender, though Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Sheffield United have been monitoring his situation closely with keen interest emerging up and down the country.
Reports of Newcastle’s interest ahead of the January window opening suggested the Toon were attracted by Holgate’s ability to play at centre-half and right-back, though faced paying £14million to acquire his services.
Either the Magpies – or Bournemouth and the Blades – have not met that alleged asking price, or Ancelotti’s support of Holgate has expanded the more he has seen the defender in action.
Holgate played 21 times at right-back while on loan with West Bromwich Albion for the second half of last season, and is currently averaging 1.9 successful tackles from 2.4 attempts per 90 minutes in the Premier League this term, alongside 1.3 interceptions, 3.5 clearances, 1.5 blocks, 4.9 accurate long balls and wins 2.0 of his 3.9 aerial duels, per WhoScored data.
In other Everton news, the club are claimed to be chasing a striker who is scoring a league goal every 297.5 minutes this season.