Leeds United could have an opportunity to strengthen their squad during the winter transfer window, with Ben Godfrey set to leave Atalanta, according to esteemed transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The former England international, who joined the Serie A club for £10million from Everton just six months ago, is no longer seen as a key part of Atalanta’s plans.
Romano stresses that transfer talks are expected for Godfrey, particularly after he was left out of the squad for Atalanta’s Super Cup match against Inter Milan on January 2. This omission signals his diminishing role within the club.
Just before the festive season, Football Insider revealed that Tottenham Hotspur had expressed an interest in Godfrey, offering a loan move in order to strengthen their defensive line. When asked about the speculation, Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou dodged the question, saying: “Sorry? We’re starting to name players, right? Let’s wait until after Christmas to Thanks, we’ll see, buddy—I’m really good this year with my Santa list, so we’ll see what I get.”
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Additionally, reports from the Daily Mail indicate that Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in the running to sign the former Norwich City defender. Atalanta appear open to loan offers, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford and Crystal Palace reportedly closely monitoring Godfrey’s situation. His experience in the Premier League with the Canaries and Toffees makes him an attractive option for the group of elite clubs vying for his signature.
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As noted by YEP journalist Graham Smyth, Leeds United do not anticipate any significant business in the transfer market in January, believing their squad to be in good shape. Their only planned move is to let Joe Gelhardt leave the club on loan, with interest from clubs in the Championship as well as Belgium and Scotland.
Although Leeds are interested in Godfrey, any potential deal will depend on their promotion to the Premier League. Should he leave Atalanta on loan, he would remain a potential target for Leeds if Daniel Farke’s squad achieve their goal of returning to the top flight.
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The decision to release Godfrey after less than a year at Atalanta could stem from his inability to secure a place in Gian Piero Gasperini’s starting XI. This season, he has only participated in five matches in all competitions, and none as a starter.
His Atalanta debut came as a substitute in the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, followed by a brief appearance in Serie A against Lecce—his only league outing. Additionally, his appearances with the club have mainly been as a substitute in Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League matches against teams like Shakhtar Donetsk and BSC Young Boys.
With Atalanta finding themselves top of the table, potentially competing for a league champions’ medal, the lack of first-team playing time could push Godfrey to seek regular minutes elsewhere.
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