"He's a real leader now" - what Everton boss Duncan Ferguson had to say about Sheffield United target Mason Holgate

One man who has been linked strongly with the Blades in recent days is Everton’s Doncaster-born central defender, Mason Holgate.

The Star confirmed on Tuesday that Holgate is among a number of potential loan signings Chris Wilder and his coaching staff have identified after being handed their recruitment budget during a recent meeting with Bramall Lane’s board of directors in Dubai.

United’s decision to include Holgate’s name on their list of possible targets has been influenced by concerns over injury or suspension to one of their centre-halves.

The 23-year-old former Barnsley youngster has also been linked with the Blades’ Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

Everton reportedly value him at £14m.

However, speculation about the defender’s future comes as he’s enjoying an extended run in the Toffeemen’s first team – starting their last nine games.

Holgate impressed in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Sunday as he produced a man of the match performance from midfield in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It was a performance which earned praise from the Merseysiders’ temporary manager Duncan Ferguson, who was forced to play Holgate in midfield alongside Tom Davies due to Djibril Sidibe and Gylfi Sigurdsson being ill.

Ferguson said: "I thought he was outstanding, incredible.

"Obviously because of the illnesses and sickness we have in the camp it was this (Sunday) morning really I had a word with him and said, 'look, I need to put you in central midfield'.

"He was brilliant to be fair. I don't know how many times he's played in central midfield, I think that might be the first, but I thought he was outstanding.

"He's a real leader now, Mason, he's really come into his own. He's maturing well and I thought he was excellent."

But with such a ringing endorsement from a man like Ferguson coupled with him enjoying an extended spell in Everton’s first team, would the Toffeemen be prepared to let Holgate leave?

His future, however, will perhaps depend on who the club appoints as successor to sacked boss Marco Silva

Former Chelsea, Milan and Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is the man Everton have identified to replace Silva and, if he is appointed, one of the first jobs he’ll be faced with resolving is Holgate’s future.

If United do bring him to Bramall Lane, they will be getting a player tipped to ‘go to the top’ when he joined Everton from Barnsley for a fee of around £2m in 2015.

During his time at Barnsley, the former England U21 international was regarded as one of the most highly-rated graduates of the Oakwell academy with his former manager Lee Johnson describing him as an ‘outstanding talent’.

Holgate, who had a trial at Manchester United before joining Everton, broke into the Barnsley first team in December 2014 and went onto impress in 22 appearances for the Reds in League One, scoring his first goal in a 5-0 win over Rochdale on the final day of the season.

Under contract at Goodison Park until June 2022, he impressed in a five-month loan spell with West Bromwich Albion last season where he played a key role in helping the Baggies secure a play-off spot.