The Ancelotti effect may have prompted reported Manchester City interest in Holgate

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Manchester City are reportedly interested in Everton defender Mason Holgate.

According to a report from The Mirror, Pep Guardiola’s side are weighing up a £30 million move for the Toffees centre-half, who has become a regular fixture at Goodison Park in recent weeks.

Holgate started the season behind Yerry Mina and Michael Keane in the pecking order, but has now started 17 of the last 19 Premier League games.

He has been virtually ever-present since Carlo Ancelotti took over in December, starting from the bench just once.

The 23-year-old has made big improvements since the Italian arrived on the scene, and there is one statistic that may go some way to explaining why City are perhaps interested.

According to Sky Sports, from November 2 to December 25, Holgate was making 23.9 successful passes per 90.

Since Ancelotti’s first game against Burnley on Boxing Day, he has been making significantly more at 50.5 successful passes per 90.

TBR’s view – Holgate the ball-player

Under Ancelotti, Holgate is proving himself to be a real ball-playing defender – the type that City manager Pep Guardiola likes.

Considering the statistic is ‘successful’ passes, that suggests Holgate is accurate as well as frequent with his passes.

There can be no guarantees over Nicolas Otamendi’s future this summer, so Everton fans may have to worry about the fate of Holgate if this excellent ball-playing style continues under Ancelotti.