Everton may have to spend up to £45m to sign Mason Holgate upgrade

Everton have seen a couple of exits in the centre back region as Yerry Mina departed as a free agent and Conor Coady’s loan wasn’t converted to a permanent move. Sean Dyche could look to add central defenders this summer and EFC have been looking at Chelsea centre back Trevoh Chalobah.

Last season, Everton had James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey, Mina and Coady as centre back options. Sending Jarrad Branthwaite on loan was a smart decision as there were plenty of options to choose from. Now, Mina and Coady are no longer at Everton and Branthwaite has returned from a fruitful spell at PSV.

Dyche has had the chance to assess Branthwaite in the preseason and also consider his choices at centre back. Holgate has been linked with a move away and has been told that he doesn’t feature in Dyche’s plans. The Englishman is free to leave the club and has attracted interest from lower Premier League sides and Championship clubs.

Everton interested in signing Chelsea centre back Trevoh Chalobah

Southampton, Leeds United and Sheffield United have been named as possible suitors for Holgate. The stumbling block is Holgate’s £72,000 per week salary which is deterring the interested sides to take the former Barnsley man on a loan.

In the event of Holgate’s departure, EFC may be tempted to sign a centre back or at least bring a defender on temporary basis. According to TEAMTALK, Chelsea have told Chalobah that he is free to leave the club after Mauricio Pochettino decided to sign Axel Disasi from AS Monaco instead of trusting Chalobah as a backup option in the rearguard. Chalobah signed a contract extension last year but his future now remains in doubt.

The Englishman is attracting interest from Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United. However, there is no shortage of suitors abroad for the 24 year old as AS Monaco, Olympique Lyon, Napoli, AS Roma and Borussia Dortmund have all been mentioned as interested parties in the Chalobah race.

Chelsea are looking to offload the English centre back on a permanent basis but would be open to a loan with an option to buy deal. With Disasi signing for Chelsea, Chalobah would see further reduction in playing time which has prompted the player to consider his future. EFC are set to face competition and even if they emerge to lead the race for the 24 year old, Chelsea’s asking price will surely send shockwaves to the Everton hierarchy.

The West London club will demand up to £45 million for Chalobah, a figure that Everton will struggle to pay. The best outcome for EFC will be to bring Chalobah on loan but given the interest of Champions League playing clubs in Dortmund and Napoli, there is little chance for Everton to win the Chalobah race.

Will the Toffees sign Trevoh Chalobah?