According to The Athletic, Everton are interested in Ben Godfrey and are desperate to bring in another centre-back before the summer transfer window closes.
With Mason Holgate sidelined for up to three months with a toe injury, Jarrad Branthwaite ruled out for up to five weeks with an ankle injury and Lewis Gibson being loaned out to Reading, we need a defender.
Why Godfrey?
We’ve been linked with Kurt Zouma, Unai Nunez, John Stones, Mohammed Salisu, Jean-Clair Todibo, Branislav Ivanovic, Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Gabriel Magalhaes, Mykola Matviyenko, Thiago Silva, Morata, Gian Marco Ferrari, Kristoffer Ajer, Christian Luyindama, Dael Fry, Marash Kumbulla, Issa Diop, Nikola Maksimović, Fiyako Tomori, Diego Godin and Tosin Adarabioyo this summer, but Godfrey would be a great acquisition.
The 22-year-old made 78 appearances in all competitions since joining Norwich City from York City in 2016, scoring five goals with two assists. He made 51 appearances on loan at Shrewsbury Town in 2017/18 and was a regular upon his return to Carrow Road.
As per WhoScored, Godfrey won 66/108 aerial duels, completed 87.9% of his 1660 passes, was only dispossessed four times, made an unsuccessful touch (13) once every 203 minutes, blocked 45 shots/passes/crosses, made 148 clearances, gave away one foul (15) every 176 minutes, made 22 tackles, made 25 interceptions and was dribbled past (8) once every 331 minutes in the Premier League last season.
Will Norwich sell?
They don’t want to. Fulham enquired about Godrey’s availability and Football Insider said Norwich City rejected them. The 22-year-old has been a regular at centre-back this season, making 3/3 Championship appearances, so City won’t want to lose him. It may take a big offer for Norwich to entertain selling Godfrey, however.
In addition to the Englishman, Daniel Farke has Ben Gibson, Christoph Zimmermann, Timm Klose and Grant Hanley at his disposal, so he’s not lacking in depth at centre-back. Klose and Hanley aren’t making the matchday squad, however, so they may not be good enough to step up.
The EFL’s transfer window shuts in 17 days, so Norwich wouldn’t have a lot of time to replace an important player either. This could go either way.
In other news, Everton want Kurt Zouma transfer amid uncertainty over his Chelsea future