SOUGHT-after Barnsley starlet Mason Holgate’s move to Cherries is understood to have hit the buffers with Premier League rivals Everton now his likely destination.

Cherries were thought to have had a £500,000 bid for the 18-year-old defender accepted by the League One Tykes but the Toffees, who signed man-of-the-moment John Stones from Barnsley in January 2013, have moved into pole position.

Having made 22 appearances during his breakthrough campaign last season, Doncaster-born Holgate trained with Manchester United during pre-season and has reportedly been the subject of interest from Aston Villa and Swansea City.

He was left out of the Barnsley squad for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield and did not feature in Tuesday’s League Cup clash at Scunthorpe.