Stuart Pearce raves over ‘fantastic’ exit-linked Ben Godfrey in Man City v Everton
Stuart Pearce raved about the “fantastic” exit-linked Everton defender Ben Godfrey during the first half of Saturday’s (10 February) clash against Manchester City live on talkSPORT.
Godfrey was reportedly of interest to Leeds United in the closing days of the winter transfer window but a move failed to materialise, while Serie A clubs AC Milan and Atalanta are said to have had approaches rebuffed (Jacque Talbot).
The versatile defender and Ashley Young had the daunting task of dealing with City’s tricky left-wing forward Jeremy Doku at the Etihad Stadium but Pearce was impressed by how the duo coped with the threat.
“They’re like a tailors aren’t they this double act that they’re twinning up here, Godfrey and Young,” he said.
“But they’re fantastic, they’re doing a brilliant job doubling up on Doku on that left-hand side and guarding against the run of Ake when he gets forward.”
Unfortunately for Everton they were unable to keep the momentum going as they were beaten 2-0 thanks to a second-half double from Erling Haaland at the Etihad.
Does Ben Godfrey have an Everton future?
It was not even certain that Ben Godfrey would have an Everton future in the closing days of the transfer window and not many supporters would have been too disappointed to see him depart in truth.
That being said, it would have greatly affected an already threadbare squad available to Sean Dyche at the Toffees and Godfrey’s ability to play in more than one position means that he still has value to the squad.
Whether he has a long-term future at Goodison Park of course still remains to be seen and it might be that Everton look to cash in during the summer transfer window and look for other alternatives.
For now, though, he is a part of this Everton team and Dyche will need every member of his squad to knuckle down and put in a huge shift if they are going to start climbing the Premier League table again – especially if their appeal against a 10-point deduction is unsuccessful.
In other Everton news, Barcelona reportedly want a discount on Amadou Onana.
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