Everton are set to complete what will most likely be their final deal of deadline day.
Heading into the final 24 hours of the window, there was so much hope from fans of this famous football club that they might be able to snag a midfielder, a new winger and a right-back too.
And, when Everton completed a deal for Orel Mangala, they were off to the perfect start.
Reservations over the latter position were to be expected, given the Toffees had snubbed countless opportunities to fix that problem, but their efforts to bring in a fresh wide man have been longstanding.
Last summer they wanted Wilfried Gnonto, and that interest continued into this summer, whilst failed moves for Jaden Philogene, Yaser Asprilla and Yankuba Minteh further outline the profile of player they craved.
It seemed they had their man in one Lyon star, but Fulham have now agreed a deal for Ernest Nuamah to break Evertonian hearts.
Mason Holgate finally set to leave Everton
With that in mind, it seems poised that their last deal of the window will be an outgoing, with Paul Joyce reporting on it.
During what has been a long day, the revered Merseyside journalist has been busy detailing all of Everton’s transfer targets.
What’s more frustrating is that none of these interests have materialised into tangible deals, marking another disappointing deadline day.
At the very least they can expel some additional dead wood after Everton sold Neal Maupay, with Mason Holgate now poised to exit too.
Joyce wrote on X: ‘West Bromwich Albion now looking to do a loan deal for Everton’s Mason Holgate.’
Alan Myers has since added: ‘Paperwork being sorted now, looks like a goer this one.’
Everton’s final deal of deadline day
With no winger to show for all of their efforts, and again no other right-backs, the very fact that they have eased their wage bill has to be some form of positive.
However, it’s actually quite sad, especially given how Holgate has regressed so rapidly across the last few years.
It’s worth noting that, not too long ago, the 27-year-old was actually recognised as one of the club’s best players.
In fact, journalist Sam Carroll once went on the following impassioned speech praising the centre-back: ‘Mason Holgate is just Mr. Dependable now and I think Mason, probably out of [Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey and himself], has gone under the radar the most.
‘He’s a leader in this team. How old is he? 23/24, absolutely superb. You talk about pound-for-pound signings, obviously [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin would be up there but again, Mason Holgate for £1m.’
Having also won the Players’ Player of the Year in the past too, watching him struggle on loan at Southampton and Sheffield United marked a real low point in his career.
Hopefully he can recapture some semblance of form at West Bromwich Albion.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
