A round-up of the latest Everton news as Lyon explore the transfer of Arnaut Danjuma and Paul Merson delivers an ‘interesting’ prediction for Saturday’s match with Wolves.
Everton increasingly likely to cancel Mason Holgate’s loan to Southampton
Southampton are due for a rebuild over the January transfer window that should see Mason Holgate return to Everton. That is according to The Athletic, which reports that there is now a ‘growing possibility’ that the Toffees terminate the 27-year-old’s temporary St Mary’s stint.
Holgate moved to the south coast on a season-long deal this August after failing to establish himself under Sean Dyche. The centre-half only featured four times from 26 potential games after the Kettering-born manager replaced Frank Lampard at Goodison Park back in January.
Life in red-and-white has not been great for Holgate, however, having only appeared in five of a potential 21 games. He has further only started in four Championship matches and has not featured since November 11. So, Everton are likely to recall Holgate from Southampton.
Holgate has been available for Saints manager Russell Martin for every Championship game since August. Yet the defender has failed to force his way onto the pitch for their past nine games. Even after Martin hailed Holgate for a Man of the Match performance last time out.
“Mason gave us a brilliant performance,” Martin told the Daily Echo after Southampton beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1. He also called Holgate’s game ‘fantastic’, and added: “Mason has had to wait for his opportunity and had a tough start to life here, which was my fault.”
Read more about Holgate’s potential return to Everton in January, here.
Paul Merson predicts a 2-2 draw for Wolves vs Everton
Merson has predicted Wolves and Everton to share a 2-2 draw when they meet at Molineux on Saturday. Dyche takes the Toffees to the Old Gold for their final Premier League fixture of 2023 in a 15:00 clash. But a draw would see the Blues go six games without beating Wolves.
Everton have not got the better of Wolves since they won 1-0 at Goodison Park back in May 2021. The Merseyside club have also not won away to the Old Gold since January 2021. The Blues have even lost all but one of their past five league meetings with Saturday’s opponent.
Merson believes Everton ‘need to get a result’ at Wolves with Dyche’s side just a point clear of the relegation zone. Back-to-back defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City put an end to the Blues’ run of four-straight wins. Now, Merson claims a draw awaits at Wolves.
“Wolves have had a good Christmas,” Merson has told Sportskeeda. “So, I think this should be an interesting game with a handful of goals. They have some good players and have done really well to cope in the absence of Pedro Neto.
“Everton should have got a result against Tottenham and pushed Manchester City to their limits earlier this week, indicating that both sides are playing some decent football heading into this one.”
Read more about what Merson has predicted for Wolves vs Everton, here.
Lyon explore a January transfer for on-loan Everton outcast Arnaut Danjuma
Ligue 1 giants Lyon are now exploring the transfer of on-loan Everton attacker Danjuma for a January swoop. That is according to Foot Mercato, which claims that Les Gones have placed the 26-year-old along with West Ham United’s Said Benrahma on a shortlist of new wingers.
Lyon appreciate what Danjuma can deliver if Everton agree to terminate their loan deal with Villarreal. The Toffees spent £3.5m to hire the Dutchman for the season but he has struggled to impress Dyche. Danjuma has only started in three of his 11 Premier League outings so far.
Foot Mercato believes it will be difficult for Lyon to convince Everton to let Danjuma leave as Dyche does not anticipate making many mid-season signings. But Lyon are prepared to offer Villarreal a loan with an option to buy as long as their clause does not exceed €15m (£13m).
Danjuma has been a part of every Everton squad in the Premier League so far this term. Yet his only starts came against Wolves, Sheffield United and Arsenal in August and September. Dyche has even only fielded him for 51 minutes over their last 10 top-flight fixtures in total.
Read more about Lyon’s interest in Danjuma’s transfer from Everton, here.
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