Atalanta considering Ben Godfrey transfer already after Everton exit
Atalanta considering Ben Godfrey transfer already after Everton exit
Transfers

Atalanta consider Ben Godfrey exit already after Everton transfer agreement

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Atalanta could look to offload Ben Godfrey before the transfer window closes just two months after leaving Everton, according to Tutto Atalanta.

The Italian source reported [28 August] that the 26-year-old defender has struggled to break into Gian Piero Gasperini's starting XI despite a defensive emergency, with youngsters preferred instead.

It is understood that the Serie A club finding a new destination for Godfrey cannot be ruled out, though trying to sell him before the August 30 deadline will not be easy.

Atalanta to sell Ben Godfrey after Everton exit?

While fans at Goodison Park were shocked to see the club bring in £10million from the defender [BBC Sport], mainly due to his lack of games under Sean Dyche, this news will come as a surprise.

The 26-year-old gained some valuable minutes in Atalanta's UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid before the season began but has only played 22 minutes since.

Despite Gasperini's desperation for a centre-back to play against Torino, the manager decided to drop Marten de Roon back into the position, as he did on occasion last season, instead of putting Godfrey in the lineup.

While the Englishman's lack of game time for the Toffees will have been a frustrating situation for him, it has become obvious that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Ben Godfrey, Everton
Ben Godfrey, former Everton defender

Godfrey's time on Merseyside was certainly mixed, making just 93 appearances over four years after joining from Norwich City, but at least he was appreciated by the manager, even at the end of his stay.

Of course, there is much of the season left to play, and he could adapt to life in Italy if Atalanta are not able to find a new deal for him elsewhere, but it is an awful situation for the 26-year-old to be in.

In other Everton news, Ally McCoist has shared a "disaster" verdict as a new relegation prediction was made.

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Everton
Ben Godfrey
Atalanta
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