Exit-linked English Everton ace rejects contract extension as sale route opens - report

Ben Godfrey has rejected offers to extend his Everton deal amid speculation he could leave the club this summer, according to HITC.

The outlet reported on their website (11 June) that the English defender is wanted in Serie A and could now see two Italian giants in AC Milan and Roma push to sign him after they were both turned down by Lloyd Kelly.

The Bournemouth defender looks set to move to Newcastle, with a medical due this week, in a deal which would “pave the way” for Godfrey to leave Goodison Park.

Milan and Roma both reportedly attempted to hijack Kelly’s move but he had already given his word to Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

Godfrey has a year left on his current Toffees deal, having arrived from Norwich in a £25million deal four years ago [BBC Sport], and with Atalanta also in the race to sign him he could now leave for a much lower price this summer [talkSPORT, 4 June].

Jarrad Branthwaite also in demand from Everton defence

From a club point of view it would be a blow to lose Godfrey, primarily because he is a solid player who can provide cover all across the back line for Sean Dyche.

But from his point of view it is perhaps little surprise that he might be interested in a move when he has dropped down the pecking order at centre back, with Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, and before that Conor Coady, all preferred in the middle.

A broken leg two seasons ago clearly set him back, and he has been a willing option for Dyche at both full-back spots as the manager has demonstrated a lack of trust in the likes of Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko at times.

But Godfrey, 26, doesn’t look especially comfortable out wide and would surely prefer to get a look in centrally.

Given Branthwaite is highly sought-after, with Manchester United seemingly the most prominent in a long queue of suitors, a spot could potentially be about to open in the starting line up.

It would clearly be far more of a disappointment for Everton to lose the star youngster this summer, but if Godfrey left in the same window it would compound the problem significantly.

In other Everton news, a Toffees takeover by a billions-backed bid will have a major impact on the club’s £1billion-plus debt burden.

For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post Exit-linked English Everton ace rejects contract extension as sale route opens - report appeared first on Goodison News.