It seems Saints are going to do some transfer business today, according to media reports, Everton defender Mason Holgate is travelling to Southampton today for a medical and if successful will sign for Saints.

Everton fan site goodisonnews.com has spotted a tweet by journalist David Ornstein from The Athletic claiming that Mason Holgate will be in Southampton today for his medical ahead of signing a season long loan deal at St Mary's, although he also says that there will be no option to buy at the end of it.

Holgate signing will not be surprising, it has been bubbling under for the last few weeks, although it had gone quiet of late.

Holgate is primarily a central defender, although he has also played for the Toffee's at right back, so is comfortable in a back three as well as a back four.

The two big questions that will be asked by Saints supporters now is firstly will the club still be pursuing the signing of Nathan Wood from Swansea City and if so what that will mean for the two current central defenders Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek.

Neither have been completely convincing in the opening games and certainly do not complement each other as a pair, we are too often caught for pace at the back and a lack of organisation.

So does Russell Martin see Holgate and Wood as a pairing or are we now going to drop our interest in the Swansea man and bring in Holgate to pair with one of the existing duo.

Everton fans seem to have no animosity towards Holgate, only disappointment that it hasn't worked out for him Goodisonnews seem to hope that he will rejuvenate his career at St Mary's and return a better player who can recapture the form he showed a couple of seasons ago.

Certainly he doesn't seem to be the type of player Sean Dyche likes to employ in the centre of his defence and since the ex Burnley managers arrival he has played just 3 times out of the grand total of 8 appearances he made last season.

This season, so far down the pecking order is he under Dyche, that he hasn't even been named on the bench in their two opening games.

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kenis added 10:26 - Aug 25 Howe also has said Ryan Fraser coming our way, does that mean Tella and/or Sulemana are leaving? We seemed well stocked for wingers with Djenpo and Arma and Armstrong able to cover. Holgate surely as back up initially as can’t see Bednarek or Stephens not being first choice. Wood to come as well since ABK to leave and Lyanco not rated.
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Bowlercow added 11:58 - Aug 25 Wood and Hogate? We need to move ABK and Lyanco pretty quick Why Fraser? I would rate Djenepo above him
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WestSussexSaint added 12:51 - Aug 25 With the expectation that ABK will be sold and Lyanco too (or at least Martin doesn’t rate him if he cannot be offloaded) then I would think we need both Holgate and the lad from Swansea to have 4 Centre Backs. Given the long season, potential injuries and yellow card/suspensions we will need that number, whoever it’s decided is the first choice pairing. My main hope about Holgate coming in is that it isn’t part of a broader deal or at least informal agreement to send Che the other way.

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SanMarco added 14:01 - Aug 25 He had made JS captain so that presumably means he intends to play him. I had the same thought about Che WestSussex. I really think we need to keep at least one of Che and Tella.
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