Everton could lose £70k-per-week centre-back to Europa League club THIS JANUARY
Everton’s well-documented financial woes have led to their position of strength diminishing rapidly, especially regarding their stance on outbound transfers.
In a desperate effort to balance the books, big offers for key men were regretfully accepted, and in the end, the likes of Richarlison, Anthony Gordon and even Alex Iwobi were sales likely not desired at the time.
However, fortunately for Sean Dyche, those departures have not impacted morale too much, with his current crop of stars arguably the best the club has seen in the last few years.
They are flying at the moment, and despite enduring a ten-point deduction they still have established a four-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
And yet, such a rich vein of form has merely plugged the off-pitch gaps that still remain, offering a momentary respite to ease the struggles of Evertonians. Additional sales could be on the cards, with one man potentially set to be seduced by European football.
Having sent Mason Holgate on loan to Southampton, a lack of game time could see him recalled next month. However, that would only be in order to move him on again, with pundit Carlton Palmer telling Football League World one potential destination.
He noted: ‘As things stand, Everton are currently planning to recall Holgate in January as he’s struggled to secure first-team football at St Mary’s – he’s made just five appearances and not performed to his true potential.’
The pundit continued: ‘Wherever he goes, Everton will want to see him playing, but the opportunity to join Glasgow Rangers might prove too big a draw than Middlesbrough or Watford.’
It is sad to have witnessed the decline of Holgate first-hand, given just how imperious the start of his Everton career was.
Having joined from Barnsley, in a move directly mirroring John Stones’, it was expected that the 27-year-old might follow in the footsteps of Manchester City’s treble-winning superstar.
After all, his performances in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign saw him voted the club’s Players’ Player of the Season, leading to his new £70k-per-week deal too.
That bumper contract has since proved a financial blunder though, with his performances only dwindling since then.
Now, he is widely regarded as something of a liability on Merseyside, having struggled through the 2021/22 season in which they narrowly avoided the drop.
His 6.65 average rating only typified his failures, as the centre-back has since admitted that injuries curtailed his Everton career.
Given it is unlikely that he will return to Goodison Park to become a mainstay under Dyche, perhaps Rangers might offer a fresh start for the versatile defender who has endured a dramatic fall from grace.
