Everton contract news emerges amid Tottenham interest in Ben Godfrey
Everton have begun contract talks with Ben Godfrey amid interest from Premier League outlet Tottenham Hotspur, according to TEAMtalk.
The online news outlet reported [20 December] that Tottenham are admirers of the Toffees defender, who has been limited to just one league start so far this season.
It is understood that several clubs are keeping an eye on the 25-year-old’s situation at Goodison Park, with his current contract running out at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The defender, who is capable of deploying at centre-back or full-back, joined the club from Norwich City in 2020 and has since made 80 appearances. The first couple of seasons were standouts for him but has been shunned since midway through last season.
A tough decision
Godfrey proved to Sean Dyche and the Everton faithful that he is still able to perform at the very top level, replacing the in-form Jarrad Branthwaite for Everton’s 2-0 away victory over Burnley on Saturday 16 December.
His vital goal-line clearances kept the Toffees’ clean sheet and spared James Tarkowski his blushes after a mistake near the Everton penalty area.
Although Dyche’s trust in the defender has dwindled, it is clear that Godfrey is still a Premier League-level defender, who would be a good short-term fix for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou as they continue to suffer with a plague of injuries.
However, it would be a waste of the £20million fee, as per TEAMtalk, that Everton paid for the former Norwich man back in 2020. With so little time on the pitch and a little over 18 months left on his contract, there is not much room for bargaining a high price.
As James Tarkowski and Michael Keane continue to age, Godfrey provides Dyche with a ready-made alternative at centre-back to partner Branthwaite moving forward, if the club can hold onto the latter.
And if the club were still thinking of selling him, extending his contract would help give more leverage to clubs, such as Spurs, who have much more money to throw around than the likes of Everton.
In other Everton news, a BBC Sport journalist has shared a “hero to villain” verdict on one Toffees ace after their EFL Cup loss to Fulham.