Atalanta are reportedly willing to consider offers for Ben Godfrey, who joined from Everton in the summer
Everton could be in line for a payout should a former defender leave his new club this month. Ben Godfrey moved to Atalanta in the summer, ending a four year stint on Merseyside. He has struggled for opportunities with the Serie A side, however, and there are reports the Italian league leaders are open to his departure.
The 26-year-old was an early transfer window move that the Blues believe helped the club to fall within Premier League financial limits.
The deal, understood by the ECHO to have been for a fee of £11m, included a sell-on clause, paving the way for the club to earn another fee should he make a permanent switch after just six months in Bergamo.
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Godfrey, whose availability was reported by Fabrizio Romano, made 15 appearances under Sean Dyche last season. Dyche relied on the former Norwich City player to help cover at right back amid injuries to Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson.
Eager for more consistent first team opportunities and having been courted by Atalanta across the previous 12 months, Godfrey was open to the move, as were Everton with the player set to enter the final year of his deal.
“I’ve made great memories at this football club and will always appreciate my time here”, Godfrey later posted in a goodbye message to Everton supporters.
He was a second half substitute in the club’s UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid. But while he is a regular on the bench and played 26 minutes in the 6-1 Coppa Italia win over Cesana in December, he has played just 22 minutes in the league, all of which came in the first game of the season against Lecce.
