Mason Holgate might have saved Everton having to spend millions in January

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One area where Everton failed to make much-needed recruitment in the summer was at centre-back. The club lost both Phil Jagielka and Kurt Zouma in the summer, leaving Yerry Mina and Michael Keane as the club’s two central defensive options. 

Despite links with several players over the summer, Everton never managed to bring a centre-back in. 

Keane has since gone on to have a difficult season, especially with England, whilst Mina is finally living up to his potential. 

However, it is Mason Holgate that might be saving Everton millions in January. 

Holgate has mostly been used as right-back during his time at Everton but it was always well understood that he had a future at centre-back. 

His form on loan at West Brom last season certainly suggested that he still had a chance of making it at Everton and when Keane was dropped Holgate took his chance.

It is a fantastic turnaround for a player who, as reported by the Daily Mail, was being lined up for a potential exit in the summer. 

In recent weeks he has been one of Everton’s best players and it might mean the club hold off on making what would be an expensive swoop in January. 

With Jean-Philippe Gbamin also capable at the heart of the defence, and back fit in the new year, Everton may feel they are best waiting until the summer when prices are lower and a wealth of Bosman opportunities also arise. 

It could be that Holgate, the once near-forgotten talent at Goodison Park, could go on to save them millions in the future.