Town are in discussions with Atalanta regarding the loan signing of former Norwich City and Everton defender Ben Godfrey.

Whispers regarding the Blues’ interest in the 26-year-old had been circulating for a couple of days and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano is reporting that discussions regarding a loan deal are ongoing. We understand that that is the case.

Godfrey, who plays at centre-half or right-back, joined Atalanta for £11 million but has made only one appearance in Serie A and had been linked with a return to England with Tottenham among those reported to be interested.

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 also 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 his appearances at U20 and U21 levels.

Town have always seemed likely to be in the market for a player in the mould of Godfrey 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.

Photo: IMAGO/Steinsiek.ch via Reuters Connect

cressi added 14:35 - Jan 3 Middlesbrough think that's a error some how Ben Gibson maybe.
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Pique added 14:37 - Jan 3 Yep, think that's a mistake and you mean Ben Gibson. Godfrey played for Norwich and Everton.
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Zx1988 added 14:42 - Jan 3 Nope, no mistake. Godfrey came through the youth ranks at York and Boro.
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Monkey_Blue added 14:48 - Jan 3 I hope no one cares about him being an ex canary… but that’s possibly being over optimistic. It does given he’s a right back/ centre back mean a senior player is going to have to go out the door or sit in the stands having been deregistered if we want to sign anyone else.(I’m assuming we will be deregistering Ogbene to open one space up). I think Philogene counts towards the squad as he was 22 last February.

1

Blueray added 14:51 - Jan 3 For me...this would be a good signing.... Good age, Good athlete, Prem experience and an upgrade on Clarke (cover for Tzuanzebe). Would like to make it a perm signing
4

cressi added 14:57 - Jan 3 Never played a professional game at Middlesbrough not on about when he was ten.
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FreddySteady added 15:03 - Jan 3 Wouldn’t be bothered in the slightest that he’s played for Norwich, we really need to get over that sort of thing. Sounds half decent to me.
11

ArnieM added 15:04 - Jan 3 So whose leaving then? H. Clarke, Woolfenden?( had heard Woolfenden wants to leave anyway)....Can't count Edmundson as he's not here anyway.
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reescurtis added 15:07 - Jan 3 Not bothered about the scum background but more bothered that for both scum and everton he was way out his depth and made mistakes regularly not the type of RB we need atm
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Zx1988 added 15:09 - Jan 3 @cressi What part of this quote from the article is incorrect? "York-born Godfrey started his senior career with his hometown club, having spent time as a youth player at Middlesbrough." Weird that you're trying to double down on something that is so clearly and obviously incorrect.
0

Carberry added 15:11 - Jan 3 Does this suggest the expensive acquisition in wages and signing on fee of Johnson was a mistake?
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JVAR51 added 15:14 - Jan 3 If it is a loan, then why not? Signing permanently him seems like a bit of a 'Muh' signing.
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Bazza8564 added 15:15 - Jan 3 Strengthen the squad Stay in the PL Nothing else matters Trust the process! Hope I'm not over simplifying things :) In KM and MA we must trust.
5

Monkey_Blue added 15:17 - Jan 3 Johnson will be gutted.. he left West Ham because he was a bit part player and he probably saw himself as first choice RB, but he’s behind Tuanzebe when he’s fit, would be behind Godfrey you’d assume and I don’t think you could say it’s clear that McKenna prefers him over H Clarke. Personally I prefer Clarke at RB to Johnson. I doubt we will be shipping Johnson out though so might be Clarke who’s head is on the chopping block.

1

MickMillsTash added 15:18 - Jan 3 1 appearance for Atalanta this year hardly makes him 'oven ready' but Very Good Athlete, clearly has a lot of potential,
1

Linkboy13 added 15:20 - Jan 3 Hasn't quite lived up to his early promise and had a up and down time at Everton but has represented England at senior level so that's good enough for me. Tuanzebe is never going to be fully fit over a period of time do to his long standing back problem.
1

Monkey_Blue added 15:21 - Jan 3 Emery has pretty much made it clear Philogene can go out on loan in his press conference this afternoon so I’d expect him to arrive. Unless any other signings are U21 more than one player is going to have to be shipped out of the current squad. I know we all talk about Al Hamadi needing to go out on loan but a club needs to want him so finger crossed we already have a loan lined up for him.

0

JimJamITFC added 15:22 - Jan 3 He was flying at Everton before he got covid a while back, looked like he lost a yard of pace. But who knows how he will play in a very different system.
1

Leejames99 added 15:45 - Jan 3 Great signing this would be and very clever to get a premiership experienced player from abroad so we can still get another from Premiership, this will give us 3 prem experienced right backs in Tunazab, Godfrey and Johnson, think H Clarke may ho on loan but don't think he should or will be sold. I think we will cash in on Burns, Chaplin and Al-Hamadi. Great we getting business done early too with a cup game soon, gives time to train and bed in. COYB

1

dusth added 15:49 - Jan 3 No worries about Norwich connection for player unless he at any time - has said "my blood runs yellow", has celebrated goals against us with undue arrogance, has made obscene gestures to the North Stand, is in any way related to Chris Sutton or has praised Delia Smith's cooking. Am I leaving anything out?
5

gsoly added 16:01 - Jan 3 Good mate of mine is an Everton fan, and plays to an excellent semi-pro level himself. Here's what he told me: 'Serious athlete. Horrific on the football - terrified of it. Not a good signing for me.' But, as always: in McKenna we trust. Would assume, based on that, he'll be playing the RCB role. As above, Johnson definitely looking like a (very) expensive mistake. Not in the short term necessarily, but have it on good authority he's on £60k-a-week. Try shifting that off the books when he's penned a five-year deal.

0

IP9 added 16:04 - Jan 3 This one makes no sense to me whatsoever, IMO we are more than strong enough in defence - especially when Tuanzebe is back. H Clarke can 100% do a job as a back up RWB, don't underestimate the spirit of Harry staying in the group.
1

Len_Brennan added 16:14 - Jan 3 Tuanzebe is out of contract in the summer & can speak to potential suitors (of which there will be a few) now; maybe he has alreadt made it clear that he is off regardless of which league we are in come September. A loan with an option might be a good bit of business here.
3

MK1 added 16:34 - Jan 3 Not sure on this one. Was a promising youngster, but only one appearance this season? Think I would like to give Johnson a more extended chance.
3

Bazza8564 added 16:38 - Jan 3 Everybody assuming that hes coming to play RB? Not me, if we stick with this 3CB system we need someone with more experience potentially to play in the sweeper role that Wolfy has started in the last two games. Burgess can't play there and this might make a bit more sense with RB options fairly reasonable with Johnson and Tuenzebe??
2

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