Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey could join the Blues on loan as soon as next week, according to reports in Italy.
News that Town were targeting the 26-year-old former Everton and Norwich man emerged yesterday and Godfrey is understood to be keen on the proposed move.
CalcioAtalanta is reporting that the last details of the deal are under discussion and the switch could take place in the week.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, other Premier League clubs remain interested but with Town the only concrete offer on the table.
Godfrey has remained behind while his Atalanta teammates have travelled to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Supercoppa Italiana.
The centre-half or right-back joined Atalanta for £11 million in the summer but has made only one appearance in Serie A and had been linked with a return to England with Tottenham, Leeds, Wolves and Nottingham Forest among the other clubs previously linked.
York-born Godfrey started his senior career with his hometown club, having spent time as a youth player at Middlesbrough, before moving on to Norwich City, with whom he won the Championship title in 2018/19 having spent time on loan at Shrewsbury.
In the summer of 2020 he moved on to Everton and during his spell at Goodison Park he won two full England caps, adding to appearances at U20 and U21 levels.
Town have always seemed likely to be in the market for a player in the mould of Godfrey in this transfer window to compete for Axel Tuanzebe’s right-sided defensive role.
An overseas loan doesn’t count towards the two player limit in the Premier League, which affects only domestic loans.