Holgate set for West Brom loan move

Everton central defender Mason Holgate is set to join West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season.

Holgate, 22, has not played a competitive fixture for the Toffees since September 16 and, according to Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones, is likely to spend the remainder of the campaign with the Baggies, third in the Championship:

He featured in all of Everton’s first five league games under Marco Silva, but found himself fall down the pecking order once August centre-half arrivals Yerry Mina and Kurt Zouma established themselves in the Blues’ back line.

Consequently, Holgate has not been named in a matchday squad since October 6.

Should the move go through, he will join a West Brom side who, under Darren Moore, are aiming for an immediate return to the top-flight after relegation last season, and are currently two points off the Championship’s automatic promotion places.

Moore has often opted for a back three this season, so although Holgate has experience of playing as a right-back, it seems likelier that he will challenge Kyle Bartley, Craig Dawson, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ahmed Hegazi for a place in Albion’s central defence.

Since joining Everton from Barnsley in August 2015 for a reported £2 million fee, Holgate has made 48 appearances for the Blues.