Ben Godfrey’s departure from Everton is imminent, with the club on the verge of agreeing a deal with Atalanta worth up to £8.65million, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The Serie A side has increased their initial bid to £7.62million, with a further £1.03million in add-ons, to secure the services of the 26-year-old centre-back.
Godfrey’s exit from Goodison Park has been anticipated for some time, with the defender struggling to regain his form and fitness following a series of injuries. He has made just 30 appearances in the last two seasons, and his lack of game time has seen him fall down the pecking order under Sean Dyche.The rise of Jarrad Branthwaite has also contributed to Godfrey’s demise, with the young defender emerging as an unsellable asset in Dyche’s side. Everton’s willingness to sell Godfrey is seen as a means to generate cash, with the club facing financial pressures and looking to offload players to ease their profit and sustainability concerns.
The proposed deal with Atalanta represents a significant loss for Everton, who paid £20million to sign Godfrey from Norwich in 2020. However, the club’s financial situation has forced their hand, and they are now willing to accept a reduced fee for the defender.Godfrey’s departure will bring an end to a disappointing spell at Goodison Park, where he failed to live up to expectations. Despite his initial promise, injuries and a lack of form have seen him fall out of favour, and he will now look to revive his career in Italy.
The transfer is expected to be completed in the coming hours, with Atalanta eager to secure Godfrey’s signature. The deal will bring a much-needed injection of cash to Everton, who will look to use the funds to strengthen their squad in other areas.In other news, Everton have issued an update on their Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) status, with the club working to ensure compliance with the Premier League’s financial regulations. The Toffees have been