Everton have made a big money bid for Norwich City central defender, Ben Godfrey according to The Telegraph.
Everton make £26m bid for Norwich central defender Ben Godfrey @Matt_Law_DThttps://t.co/AeCfAgAy1c
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) September 30, 2020
The fee is reported as being £26m, consisting of £20m plus a further £6m in performance related add-ons. That seems a little on the low side to me and The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell agrees.
Everton have made a bid of £20m plus £5m add-ons for Ben Godfrey. Expect it to be rejected as Norwich valuation is £30m. Newcastle have asked re price. Fulham interested. Personally think #MUFC could do worse than buy and loan out. Won’t happen. But he’s a real talent. #EFC #NUFC
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) September 30, 2020
The 22-year-old has been an ever present this season and most of last season, since taking his place in the side with about 15 minutes notice, at home to Bolton in late 2018 after Timm Klose pulled up during the warm-up. Since then, it is basically a matter of “if Ben is fit and available, he plays” something that Daniel Farke actually said some time ago.
The only time he has missed out since is when he had a hernia operation, missing just one game before being sent off for leaving a little something on Callum Wilson at home to Bournemouth last season.
The reality of this bid is that it is quite large. It would make him, if it is accepted, the most expensive player that Norwich have ever sold. The current highest fee being a reported £24m received for James Maddison when he left for Leicester in the summer of 2018.
Godfrey has all the attributes needed to be a great centre-back, perhaps even world class, which is how Herr Farke once described Ben’s career prospects. He is very quick, strong and he has a good awareness of danger, although his positional sense has seen him caught cold at the highest levels but, we must remember, he is still only 22.
It would be a great move for Ben but would leave us with a big hole in our defence. Hopefully that can be filled by Ben Gibson.
OTBC