Leeds United transfer news: Fee agreement claim emerges on Everton defender Ben Godfrey
Leeds United and Everton are yet to meet in the middle to find an agreement on the transfer of Ben Godfrey to Elland Road, according to Beren Cross.
The LeedsLive journalist reported on 29 January that the unsuccessful pursuit of Daiki Hashioka, who’s on his way to Luton Town, shows that the Whites are active in the final days of the window.
Godfrey, a defender who’s fallen down the pecking order at Goodison Park, remains to be an option for Daniel Farke and Leeds but it’s down to the clubs reaching common ground ahead of the deadline.
Cross wrote: “Right-back Daiki Hashioka was near the top of the cub’s wanted list until this weekend. The injury raised a question mark for the Whites and the right-back is now expected to join Luton Town. Hashioka may not be arriving, but the pursuit of him was an important show of intent from Leeds, who are active in the market.
“Everton’s Ben Godfrey remains of interest, but the two clubs are yet to meet in the middle on the numbers. Godfrey was blooded as a centre-back by Farke at Norwich City, but has regularly played across the full width of the backline for the Toffees since 2020.”
Get it done
Leeds have already waited too long to get transfers over the line even though there have been first-team exits.
Djed Spence and Luke Ayling have both left and Farke surely would not have sanctioned those moves if the club weren’t capable of getting fresh faces through the door.
The January window is meant to strengthen clubs, especially those in need of reinforcements to have a realistic promotion push.
Right now, Leeds are weaker than what they were at the start of the month and a side serious about competing for a Premier League spot must not operate in this manner.
Ideally, they should not have sold Ayling until they had guarantees about a new defender coming in.
Godfrey, a centre-back by trade, has played at both right-back and left-back and has also been deployed as a wing-back so he’s certainly an option that’s going to strengthen the Whites’ first team.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites could now move fast to sign a West Ham defender with just a few negotiation points left to iron out.
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