Mason insists it will get a Hol lot better at Goodison

MASON HOLGATE has warned Everton’s coveted stars that they would be making a “sideways step” if they were to leave the club for anything other than Champions League football.

The Toffees will round off a season to forget at Arsenal this afternoon, having only secured their Premier League status with a 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace on Thursday.

But another battle awaits when the transfer window opens – keeping hold of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Jordan Pickford amid interest from rival clubs.

But Holgate believes that unless those players get an offer from a top-six outfit they would be better served staying at Goodison

Park to build something special under

Frank Lampard.

He said: “We have had one bad season, it is easy to overlook us where we are.

“We are under no illusions there are teams like the top four or five who are going to be appealing to players who are good enough because they are challenging for things and playing in Champions League.

“If you look under that certain bracket, there are teams doing well one season and then not.

“I wouldn’t class them as a step up, it would be a sideways step.

“Obviously you have Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham who are that step up for people who want to play in the Champions League.

“But if you look outside of that, it’s not that major a step so people will want to stay here.

“It is what people know and they can help push the club in the right direction and try to win things.”

Regardless of who stays or goes, Holgate (below) is convinced Everton won’t be involved in another fight for survival next season.

He added: “If you look at the quality we have got we shouldn’t be anywhere near this. We should be at the other end of the table battling for other things.

“It’s happened now this season. There’s nothing we can do other than learn from it.”

Toffees boss Lampard admits Everton cannot take it for granted that they can pick up next season.

He said: “What right does Everton have to be Premier League-safe every year and that will continue forever more?

“There are a lot of decisions that have to be made and performances we have to do, and my job has to be done as well as it can be to make sure that happens.

“We were in that position because we deserved to be. It is important to say that.

“It is great to be safe but the things we can do to make it better are things we have to work on.”

Lampard praised Thursday’s Goodison Park atmosphere.

But he added: “We can’t expect 10,000 people to turn up and parade us in every game. It doesn’t work that way.”