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PUBLISHED: 10:55 October 1st, 2020 | UPDATED: 11:04 October 1st, 2020
Ben Godfrey is being tracked down by a host of Premier League clubs, but Norwich City have turned down a potential £ 25 million offer Image: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd
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Norwich City has turned down a possible £ 25 million offer for Ben Godfrey.
England’s under-21 international has become a prime target for Everton, but a proposed £ 20 million deal with an additional £ 5 million in add-ons was scrapped.
City rate the 22-year-old central defender as one of the best defensive prospects in the country, and he is ready to stand firm in his assessment of Godfrey.
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he is a huge fan of the powerful defender after Wednesday’s 4-1 League Cup win over West Ham.
The Liverpool Echo also claim that Godfrey is their number one target, as they have so far failed to sign Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea in a proposed loan change.
It remains to be seen whether the Merseysiders follow through on their initial interest, with Godfrey also linked to Premier League duo Newcastle and Fulham in recent days.
City made it clear at the start of the closed season that none of its best talents will go below market rates.
Liverpool’s brazen offer for Jamal Lewis was flatly rejected, before the left-back sealed his move to Newcastle for an initial £ 15m.
The Barcelona consultation for Max Aarons did not go any further, since the Catalans were only interested in a loan with an option to buy.
The overseas transfer window closes on October 5, but Premier League clubs can still buy players in this country until October 16.
Ancelotti’s team have had an impressive start to the new season in the League and Cup. The Italian confirmed that the Toffees are in the market for a center-back when he spoke to reporters after seeing his team book a place in the quarterfinals. of the League Cup.
He said: ‘We are looking for a central. Godfrey is a really good central defender, but he plays for Norwich and I can’t say anything. ‘
Godfrey is under contract at Norwich until 2023, with an additional one-year option, after signing a longer-term contract in July 2019.
The youngster has made 78 appearances since signing from York in January 2016 on a deal worth £ 1 million, with an included sales fee clause of 10 per cent of any profit made.
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