Everton have no plans to sell defender Mason Holgate on a permanent basis in the summer after it was suggested West Brom would look to keep him.

The 22-year-old arrived on loan at The Hawthorns in January and has been a key player since, impressing at right-back.

Therefore, it was no surprise to see Birmingham Live report that the Baggies would look to secure Holgate on a long-term deal in the summer - providing they won promotion.

However, the Liverpool Echo have dismissed Albion's chances of doing so, revealing that Marco Silva is a big fan of the player and that the Merseyside outfit will not be open to a permanent sale.

The Portuguese boss had already used the former Barnsley man five times in the league this season but he found his opportunities limited with a lot of competition at Goodison Park.

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Yet, with Phil Jagielka's age a concern and Kurt Zouma only on loan at the club, they may need more defensive options in the summer.

Holgate is expected to start for West Brom this weekend as they host bottom of the table Ipswich.

The Verdict

Even though he has only been with Darren Moore's since January, you can clearly see the quality that Holgate has.

So, you can understand why West Brom would want him permanently and why the Toffees are reluctant to sell.

Ultimately, this won't be an option unless the Baggies win promotion and then the player will need to decide what he wants to do as well - and at his age he needs to be playing regularly.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.