According to The Athletic, Everton is holding out for a £15 million fee for defender Ben Godfrey, despite receiving an initial offer of €10 million from Atalanta. The Italian club is interested in bringing the 26-year-old to Serie A following an injury to Giorgio Scalvini, but Everton is unwilling to accept anything less than their valuation.
Godfrey, who joined Everton from Norwich City in 2016, is reportedly open to a move to Atalanta. However, the Serie A side will need to increase their offer if they want to secure his signature. Everton is prepared to let Godfrey enter the final year of his contract and leave for free in 2025 rather than accept a below-par bid.
Despite struggling for regular playing time under Sean Dyche last season, Godfrey is considered a valuable defensive option for any team looking to strengthen their squad this summer. His aggressive and versatile playing style makes him a good fit for Gian Piero Gasperini’s man-for-man football at Atalanta.
With Godfrey’s contract expiring next year, Everton is looking to recoup a decent transfer fee for the defender in this transfer window. Negotiations are expected to continue, but Atalanta will need to match Everton’s valuation if they want to secure his services.
In other transfer news, Everton is close to finalizing a deal for Iliman Ndiaye and has signed Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa. Additionally, Jack Harrison has been brought back on a season-long loan from Leeds United as the Toffees continue their efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season.
