‘Obviously we’ll lose him’: Club chief expects to sell reported £40m Everton target

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When you are looking to enhance your backline, it is usually not a great idea to sign two players who formed one quarter of the Premier League’s most porous defence in 2019/20.

But, strangely enough, Ben Godfrey and Max Aarons emerged from a miserable campaign with their reputations unscathed.

The former joined Everton in a £20 million deal over the summer, despite playing a key role in a Norwich City side who conceded a remarkable 75 goals during their short-lived stay back in the top flight.

Godfrey, however, has bounced back in some style.

Whether filling in at left-back, on the right or in his favoured central-defensive position, the uber-adaptable 23-year-old has been one of Everton’s shining stars in a promising campaign at Goodison Park.

And, if reports are to be believed, Godfrey could soon be reunited with a former Carrow Road teammate on the blue half of Merseyside. And if Aarons can emulate the impact of his one-time Norwich captain, then Everton might find a fleet-footed full-back capable of filling Seamus Coleman’s boots on the right-hand side.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are stepping up their pursuit of the England U21 international.

Although, with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Tottenham providing competition, the Toffees face the prospect of forking over a further £40 million to Championship leaders Norwich.

“We bring forward young players and they’re really good. We’re really proud of James Maddison and Ben Godfrey, it’s lovely for us. It’s what we do,” Norwich’s joint majority shareholder Delia Smith told Sky, cooking up a storm in the rumour mill as a result.

“We can’t hang onto players. Max Aarons is one of the best. He is going to be one of the top footballers and it won’t be at Norwich. He knows that, we know that.

“Obviously, we will lose him, but that is part of our plan.”

With clubs from Liverpool to London, Manchester to Munich keen, it seems only a matter of time before another another young canary is flying the Carrow Road nest.