Everton ‘demand £40m from Man City for Mason Holgate’ with contract talks vital

Everton will reportedly demand £40m for Mason Holgate with Manchester City believed to be keen on the defender.

City are expected to be eager to strengthen their back-line this summer with Pep Guardiola’s side having struggled in defence at times this season.

Holgate has become a regular started for the Toffees and is in strong contention for England’s squad for this summer’s Euro 2020.

The 23-year-old moved to Goodison Park from Barnsley in 2015 with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2022.

And Football Insider claim that Everton now value the defender £40m, having previously valued him at £14m at the end of last season.

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Newcastle , Bournemouth and Sheffield United have also been linked with a move for Holgate though City are thought to be favourites.

Football Insider do add that any potential contract talks held for Holgate are likely to be pivotal.

Though Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti recently shut down any potential move for Holgate this summer.

“I think it’s a rumour, but if it’s not a rumour I can say Mason Holgate is an important part of the future of Everton,” he said.

“There is no possibility he can go to another club. Zero possibility, like my friend (Jose) Mourinho says: ‘Zero’.”

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been impressed with what he has seen from the centre-back.

Carragher told evertontv : "Mason Holgate has made a great start under the new manager.

"What has really impressed me is his passing from the back – and I think that is something Carlo Ancelotti will want his team to do.

"Looking at clips of Holgate when we analyse games and get ready for Monday Night Football , that is something which stands out.

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"And it is something Carlo Ancelotti will know about as much as anyone, considering some of the defenders he’s had, real world-class players.

"I first thought he [Holgate] was a full-back and might not be tall enough to be a centre-back. People said the same about me, I played full-back a lot then went to centre-back.

"I did not think he’d be able to nail down that position and he has really surprised me since he’s gone in there."

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