- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Everton are ready to let Ben Godfrey leave this month with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Luton and Leeds all showing an interest in the £20 million centre-half.
HITC Football understands that, after much speculation surrounding the future of the former Norwich City captain, Everton are now prepared to listen to offers for Ben Godfrey as the January window enters it’s final week.
HITC has been informed that a host of clubs in both the first and second tiers of English football are showing an interest, including relegation-battlers Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Luton Town. Leeds are keen too, though it remains to be seen if Godfrey would consider stepping down to the Championship with so many Premier League clubs in contention too.
The presence of Daniel Farke in the Elland Road dugout should, however, give Leeds’ hopes a boost.
It was under Farke at Carrow Road where Godfrey made his name in England’s top-flight, after all.
Leeds United join race for Everton’s Ben Godfrey
“You can speak about the best centre-backs in the world now but, at 19 and 20, they will have made mistakes,” Farke said back in 2019, one year before Godfrey’s £20 million move to Goodison Park.
“The best ones learn. Ben is playing without mistakes, and that is outstanding.
“He is a pretty emotional player. I like that a lot because it means you are capable of finding another gear.”
HITC understands that Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United showed an interest earlier this month. Tottenham have since brought in Radu Dragusin from Genoa, however. Newcastle held talks with the £26 million Romanian too – as confirmed by his agent – with manager Eddie Howe admitting that the club are struggling with Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Arnaut Danjuma also could depart
AC Milan and Napoli – both of whom also missed out on Dragusin – are eyeing Godfrey too. Napoli, Serie A champions last season, have Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah on their radar as well.
Roma, Lyon and Wolfsburg may yet make their own moves for Godfrey before the February deadline.
HITC has also been told that Arnaut Danjuma is another who will be allowed to leave Everton. The Villarreal loanee has struggled for regular minutes under Sean Dyche and has already agreed to join French strugglers Lyon.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are in advanced talks to sign Gio Reyna from Borussia Dortmund.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
