Forgotten Everton defender Mason Holgate is attracting interest from Premier League relegation contenders Sheffield United, The Star reports.
The versatile 27-year-old defender joined Southampton on a season-long loan at the start of the 2023/24 campaign but has barely featured for the Saints thus far.
Holgate has only managed five Championship appearances for Russell Martin’s side, sparking uncertainty over his long-term future at Saint Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton manager Martin had previously admitted that the future of the Englishman remains up in the air, placing the ball in Everton’s court regarding the player’s next destination.
The Toffees are yet to decide whether or not to recall Holgate, but United have emerged as a potential destination for the former West Bromwich Albion loanee.
The Blades are open to signing Holgate on a temporary deal for the remainder of the season, with manager Chris Wilder eager to bolster his defensive options this month.
Holgate was linked with a move to Bramall Lane last summer, but United decided to sign left-back Luke Thomas from Leicester City on a temporary deal, using up their second domestic loan slot.
Thomas only managed 12 Premier League appearances for the relegation strugglers before he returned to King Power Stadium, freeing up space for United to potentially strike another loan deal with an English club.
The Blades have set their sights on Holgate amid a crippling injury crisis in defence that has seen both Chris Basham and John Egan sidelined.
With Wilder short on right-footed options at the heart of the defence, Holgate has been identified as the man to help plug the gap, albeit temporarily.
Given Everton’s current financial predicament, the Toffees would be more than happy to cut Holgate loose this month but are likely to demand a loan fee from their Premier League counterparts.
Everton have been hit with a second charge for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, which could force them to sanction the departure of a number of players.