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.

Photo: IMAGO/Steinsiek.ch via Reuters Connect

ArmaghBlue added 15:38 - Jan 4 The player being keen is a good start to proceedings
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Leejames99 added 15:40 - Jan 4 Great stuff. Burns and Chaplin to Boro and we take Latte and Doak that be good watching Boro now they are both great!
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Blue_Heath added 15:57 - Jan 4 Not keen for obvious reasons.
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Linkboy13 added 15:58 - Jan 4 Godfrey very keen to work with Keiran McKenna apparently so would be a good signing with Premier league experience. If we are going to be a competitive Premier league club we must stop shopping in the championship. Big changes need to be made in the recruitment department next season.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 16:06 - Jan 4 Linkboy, not sure that "big changes in the recruitment department" are needed at all. We've had to cut our cloth, but by and large our recruitment has been good. But if what you mean is we need to start looking at other leagues around the world, then yes absolutely, and we've already done that with Cajuste. Everything is growing at Town in a controlled way in line with our finances, including the scouting network. This signing makes a lot of sense.

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Linkboy13 added 16:08 - Jan 4 Atalanta paid 11 million for Godfrey which seems a bit of a bargain considering we are paying more for championship players.
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Dissboyitfc added 16:10 - Jan 4 are top well seasoned premier league players going to be keen on moving to a side touted as favourites for the drop and will our budget allow it anyway? We have signed some gems, not all signings work out. And not sure that hatred of Norwich is good reason to not sign an ex Budgie, if he comes and does well does it really matter? well it doesnt to me! Speaking to some Norwich fans are they going to be gutted if he signs for us!

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LeightonBuzzardBlue added 16:42 - Jan 4 Watched a fair bit of Everton as my mum's side all support them as they're from up that way - I used to love watching Godfrey in the early 2020s, I wasn't surprised at all to see him get called up to England. Not sure why he lost his way a bit, but if anyone can get him back to being confident and recovering his form, it's McKenna, his staff, and this group of players. Will be super happy with this one :)

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RobITFC added 17:56 - Jan 4 Who cares if he played for Norwich , it’s what he does now , not in the past! Welcome Ben
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Lukeybluey added 18:03 - Jan 4 Apparently he's just completed his medical...
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Lukeybluey added 18:04 - Jan 4 https://football-italia.net/godfrey-completes-ipswich-medical-loan-move/
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MK1 added 18:04 - Jan 4 Personally, don't think we need him, but if McKenna does, then we do.
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ArnieM added 18:13 - Jan 4 Of course he's keen on a switch to Town. We are Premier League! I hope it goes well fir him. Fwiw, when ge played for s um I always thought he was half decent. Just need to get him match fit now.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - Jan 4 MK1 we certainly miss Axel neither Johnson or H Clarke are at that level (unfortunately). Could be a good signing for us.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - Jan 4 MK1 we certainly miss Axel neither Johnson or H Clarke are at that level (unfortunately). Could be a good signing for us.
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trevski_s added 18:22 - Jan 4 This is great news and nice to see a transfer getting done early doors too. Seems to have a decent amount of higher level experience (Premier league and Serie A) and means we won't potentially have to rush Tuanzebe back onto the pitch once he's back. Hope there is a clause for a potential signing at the end of the season as him and Axel could be a great rotation partnership on the right

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blues1 added 19:21 - Jan 4 Linkboy13. What? Why would we need to make big changes to the recruitment team? They work in the basis of what profile of player, mckenna asks for. Ashton and Mckenna,said atcprrvious fans forums thst they were concentrating on the British market as its,easier to integrate players into the squad. While ttill looking elswhere, as the signing of Cajust goes to show. Wouldnt be surprised in the least, if over the next few windows, we see more players coming from overseas tho.

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terryf added 20:59 - Jan 4 The overseas market is something we will no doubt develop as other Premiership Teams are well down the line with this avenue of recruitment and enjoyed success. Axel is probably number one choice at right-back,when fit, but Godfrey would be a good deputy. Been disappointed with Johnson who looks well off the pace when up against a speedy athletic winger. In the summer our recruitment was very much a mixed bag. Some good such as Delap, Hutchinson, Cajuste, O'Shea, Greaves and Szmodics and a few others debatable, Muric, Clarke, Johnson and Phillips. Lookind forward to an improved second half of the season though, especially after the confidence booster beating Chelsea.

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brian_a_mul added 21:18 - Jan 4 He knows what successful relegation battles are all about. That experience would be incredible for the squad. One with a potential transfer if we stay in PL next season and does well?
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Cafe_Newman added 07:39 - Jan 5 Very happy about this but can't we just refer to him as "the 26-year-old Atalanta and former Everton man", we don't normally go three clubs back when describing our players, do we?
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ArnieM added 09:18 - Jan 5 I think he came through their academy, do he's very much an ex budgie. Of course its going to be mentioned. I'm laughing at them frankly, because we've just signed one of their previous better players that they couldn't hang on to. Scum our feeder club.
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Linkboy13 added 11:27 - Jan 5 Keiran McKenna actually stated a week ago that our recruitment system has to be improved so pay attention people on here.
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