Rangers, Middlesbrough, and Watford are reportedly engaged in a three-way competition to secure the services of Everton defender Mason Holgate in the upcoming January transfer window, according to sources from Football Insider.
The Merseyside club is looking to recall the 27-year-old center-back in January due to his limited playing time at Southampton, where he is currently on loan. Everton aims to terminate his loan deal to facilitate his move to a new club in January, seeking regular playing opportunities for the player.
Rangers, Middlesbrough, and Watford have all expressed strong interest in acquiring Holgate and are exploring the possibility of a January deal. Holgate has struggled to secure a regular starting position at Southampton, having only started four games since joining the Championship club on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window.
Despite Russell Martin’s side winning only one of the four games in which the England Under-21 international has started, the three clubs remain keen on bringing Holgate into their squads. The defender, whose contract with Everton expires in June 2025, currently earns a reported £70,000-a-week wage at Goodison Park.
Holgate, who joined Everton from Barnsley in 2015, has made a total of 149 appearances for the club. With limited game time at Everton in the previous season and continuing struggles for minutes at Southampton, he faces the prospect of joining another second-tier team in January.
Rangers, currently positioned second in the Scottish Premiership, have the opportunity to progress to the Europa League knockout stages with a win over Real Betis on Thursday. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough and Watford, despite a challenging start to the 2023-24 Championship campaign, are both in contention for playoff spots.
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