Leeds United set for new Ben Godfrey bid after Everton rejection as Daniel Farke pushes for January priority deal
Leeds United are set to return with a new offer to sign Ben Godfrey from Everton before the window shuts, according to Football Transfers.
The outlet report on their website (30 January) that although the Toffees turned down an initial loan approach the Whites are expected to table a “renewed bid” for the defender.
Godfrey, 26, has reportedly been made available at Goodison Park to free up space on the wage bill, having barely featured for Sean Dyche this term.
And after playing for Elland Road boss Daniel Farke at Norwich City prior to his £20million move to Merseyside in 2020 [Sky Sports] the German is now pushing to be reunited as a “priority” before the deadline.
Deal to be done
If money wasn’t such an issue at Everton then Dyche would probably prefer to keep Godfrey around in case of a defensive injury crisis, given he can be plugged in across the back line in an emergency.
But outside of that he doesn’t appear to be eager to include him after just three appearances all season so far in all competitions.
Although contract talks were reportedly underway last month [TEAMtalk, 20 December] a move to Leeds might make sense with his current deal set to expire at then end of next season.
If a new deal isn’t on the cards then the Toffees will surely need to sell the former Canaries centre-back in the summer, and he surely needs football.
There is probably as much chance of him finding form under Farke as anyone else, dependent on how many opportunities he will get at the Championship promotion chasers.
But if a January deal is going to get done it will need to be fast to let Everton try to use what little financial leeway it provides to strengthen in other areas before the deadline.
In other Everton news, the final few days of the window at Goodison Park are now expected to be busy in the wake of an attempt to bring in a “priority” signing.
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