Leeds United transfer update amid links to Everton pair Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate, and Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham
Leeds United links to Ben Godfrey don’t appear to have legs as they are based on “somebody trying to drum up business” for him, according to Alan Nixon.
The journalist responded to a question on Twitter on 23 January to suggest that reported interest from both Elland Road and Sheffield United in the forgotten Toffees defender wasn’t likely to lead to an imminent move.
And on the subject of defenders linked to Leeds United he claimed that Godfrey’s Goodison Park teammate and current Southampton loanee Mason Holgate, as well as Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham, were both going to be costly prospects who would require permanent deals after to their weekend involvement in match-day squads.
Asked about a possible head-to-head between the Whites and the Blades for Godfrey, 26, Nixon wrote: “Somebody trying to drum up business with that one”.
And in response to a separate query on whether the club was after either Holgate or Mepham he said: “Mepham played. He would cost. Holgate on bench. He will cost. Either way it’s going to take cash.”
Off the table
It’s no secret that Leeds United appear to need defensive reinforcements before the window shuts but it would seem that these three candidates aren’t easy ones for Daniel Farke.
A Godfrey deal would have been a solid one to account for the fact that Charlie Cresswell is no longer involved, and tipped to probably leave by Phil Hay, following a difference of opinion with the manager over his use this season.
Much like Joe Rodon it would have meant bringing an underused, Premier League quality, defender down to the Championship, but also one who has a history with Farke from Norwich City.
He would have also provided some cover for both the full-back spots, amid injury doubts on the left and the exits of Djed Spence and Luke Ayling on the right.
However, the German hardly seems likely to drop either Tottenham loanee Rodon or match-day captain Pascal Struijk if both are fit so perhaps the idea of bringing Godfrey to sit on the Leeds United bench is wishful thinking.
The same applies to a greater degree with Cherries centre-back Mepham, 26, after he played 90 minutes against Liverpool at the weekend, so outside of a costly permanent deal he would possibly not be convinced by the prospect of being a substitute in the second tier.
Leeds are said to “really like” the Welshman though, so perhaps stumping up the money isn’t entirely out of the question.
Holgate, 27, was reportedly a target in the winter window last year [The Sun] but is already a little-used back-up option on loan at Southampton, and while there was thought to be a chance that deal could be cut short [Darren Witcoop, 14 December] that hasn’t happened and there is perhaps little in it for Everton to bring him back and then send him to the Whites on the same basis, without a permanent fee on offer.
Farke surely needs at least one versatile defender in at Elland Road to help make up the numbers after his defensive options fell by three, but time is running out if he is to do so.
In other Leeds United news, the club have been tipped for transfer window joy amid pursuits of three other defensive reinforcements before the deadline.
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