Everton are set to offer Holgate a new contract

Everton are set to offer Mason Holgate a new and improved contract, according to reports.

The 23-year old defender has emerged as a key player for the Toffees this season, having spent the latter six months of last season on loan with West Brom in the Championship.

Holgate has spent much of his time with the Merseyside club, since signing from Barnsley in 2015, as a rotation option or as a substitute, even beginning the current campaign on the bench as Michael Keane and Yerry Mina occupied the starting defensive spots.

However, the versatile former England youth international has now started a long run of games in a row for the club, becoming a key player after turning in a number of confident performances.

Holgate’s development has inevitably led to interest from rival clubs, with reports from earlier this week claiming that Newcastle, Bournemouth and Sheffield United are all interested in the centre-back.

Now Football Insider claim that Everton are set to offer Holgate a new deal with an improved salary as they look to tie their asset down and ward off interest.

Holgate has shown how his versatility can be a huge asset after playing Everton’s last two games in defensive midfield, and now the club want to reward him for his strong start to the campaign.

Read Everton Verdict

From every angle this makes a lot of sense for Everton. Through his performances alone, Holgate deserves to be offered a new contract that better reflects his contributions to the team, while it also makes sense to offer him a new deal amid speculated interest from other clubs.

I’ve long been a fan of Holgate, and I’m glad to see that he is finally being allowed to succeed in Everton’s senior set-up.

It is always positive to see younger players come through, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies, and Holgate’s new contract is testament to the fine work he has put in this season.