Journalist shares Ben Godfrey Everton exit view as Leeds United and Sheffield United transfer news emerges
Everton defender Ben Godfrey as a “wonderful” dilemma regarding his next club, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards.
The verdict comes after Calciomercato reported on Sunday (21 January) that Leeds United, Sheffield United and AC Milan all want to sign the centre-back.
The 26-year-old has made 80 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, but has appeared just three times in all competitions this season.
“What a wonderful choice dilemma this is for that young man,” Edwards said on the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast. “He’s got the choice where he can go to AC Milan and play for one of the most glamorous clubs in Italy, live in Milan, and play for some of the most passionate supporters in Europe. However, some of that is wishful thinking.
“His second choice is a team struggling against relegation but showing a bit of fight. He wouldn’t have to move very far from Merseyside to Yorkshire. They are a good side and have Chris Wilder who has been allowed to strengthen his squad. He wants to bolster his backline as well and they are going to have a fighting chance of staying up this season, particularly if Nottingham Forest and Everton are docked points.
“Or do you go to Leeds United? One of the great football clubs. They are a one-club city who are going really well in the Championship. They aren’t guaranteed promotion, but Godfrey can take part in a promotion campaign. However, it also runs the risk of playing for a Championship club.”
On the move?
It is clear that Godfrey is not first-choice at Everton, with manager Sean Dyche relying heavily on James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite in central defence.
The 26-year-old has made just three appearances in all competitions this season, and should really be allowed to leave Goodison Park this month in order to secure regular minutes elsewhere.
But Dyche may be reluctant to let the player leave even with his lack of minutes, with Godfrey representing a more than decent option should the club be without the likes of Tarkowski and Branthwaite.
Godfrey clearly has suitors away from the Merseyside outfit, but perhaps Dyche is keen to keep his squad intact at this crucial stage of the season.
The Toffees are in real danger of dropping down to the Championship, and will perhaps be more focused on bringing in players this month as opposed to letting them go, even if they are not part of the picture right now.
In other Everton news, Alan Stubbs has made a new Toffees prediction live on BBC after what he saw at Goodison Park recently.
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