Sources: Nottingham Forest working on deal to sign Everton star Mason Holgate
Nottingham Forest are working on a deal to sign Everton defender Mason Holgate this month, sources have told Football Insider.
Steve Cooper’s side have turned their attention to prising the versatile 26-year-old from Goodison Park before the window shuts.
Forest have made contact with Everton over a potential deal for Holgate, and have suggested it could be structured in various ways.
Holgate has struggled for game time at Everton this season and has not had a minute of Premier League action since the first four matches of the campaign.
The former West Bromwich Albion ace has since returned to the starting eleven in the 4-1 League Cup humiliation against Bournemouth in November.
Frank Lampard has regularly used a back three, but the first choices have been summer arrivals Conor Coady and James Tarkowski along with Ben Godfrey.
Forest are keen on Holgate as he is a proven Premier League operator, can play in a three or orthodox back four, and also slot in at right-back as well as his favoured centre-back position.
The defender, who is out of contract at Goodison Park in June 2025, made 29 appearances across all competitions last season.
He played a key role in the Toffees’ fight against relegation – starting each of the last seven games of the season as they picked up 10 points from a possible 21.
Everton once again find themselves in the Premier League drop zone.
The Merseysiders face a crunch clash with 18th-place West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday (21 January) with a chance to pull clear of danger.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are 13th in the Premier League after wins against Leicester and Southampton.
Steve Cooper’s side have already added Chris Wood, Gustavo Scarpa, and Danilo so far this month.
In other news, pundit “wowed” by Moussa Dembele transfer reveal as “big-money” Everton claim issued.