According to Football Insider, Manchester City are interested in signing Mason Holgate from Everton.

What's the word, then?

Well, the reigning Premier League champions are believed to be eyeing up the former Barnsley defender, and Football Insider even state that he is at the top of Pep Guardiola's summer shopping list.

Holgate is being targeted with the Citizens searching for a new centre-back, having struggled in that department this season with Aymeric Laporte out injured for a large portion and Fernandinho stepping in - the Brazilian, a natural midfielder, has very much been a square peg in a round hole.

Football Insider also state that City have been impressed with the 23-year-old's form in recent months.

Guardiola's side look likely to lose their title to Liverpool, but did record a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Shows how far Holgate has come

In the second half of last season, the versatile defender found himself out on loan at West Brom, with Marco Silva not seeing him as a vital member of the first-team enough to keep him at Goodison Park.

However, this term Holgate has made 17 Premier League starts, and has truly shone since Carlo Ancelotti walked through the door.

He has managed to dislodge Michael Keane from the starting XI since the former AC Milan, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain boss replaced Silva, helping the Toffees record five Premier League wins from nine games since Ancelotti's first fixture - a 1-0 win against Burnley.

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The fact that he was out on loan last season speaks volumes as to how insignificantly he was viewed at Goodison Park, although interest from the back-to-back Premier League champions and arguably one of Europe's best sides is incredibly telling as to just how far Holgate has come under Ancelotti.

In other news, Everton must avoid a move for this man once hailed by Timo Werner for one reason...