Journalist shares likelihood of Leeds United securing last-gasp deal for Everton defender Ben Godfrey at Elland Road

Dean Jones isn’t very optimistic about the chances of Leeds United landing a deal for Everton defender Ben Godfrey in the January transfer window.

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Monday (29 January), the former Eurosport journalist said it will be “difficult” for the Whites to sign some of the players they have been linked with this month, with Serie A giants AC Milan also in the running to sign the 26-year-old centre-back.

But he added that he would be “surprised” if Daniel Farke didn’t manage to bring a new signing in over the coming days after a defensive addition has emerged as the “priority” at Elland Road.

“It seems like this is the position that they are prioritising at the moment and they’ve made a lot of inroads in,” said Jones. “They obviously have been starting to overhaul this team and you start to look at how they’re moving on from Ayling and Firpo and kind of the core of what Leeds were is changing over time.

“But the defensive signing is the priority for the coming days. I think some of the names linked with them are difficult.

“When you look at somebody like Ben Godfrey and the level of competition that you’ve got, if you are Leeds and you’re competing with AC Milan for the signing of a player, that’s not going to be the most optimistic place in the world to be.

“Yeah, they’re certainly looking at the situation and I’d be surprised if they didn’t sign somebody in the coming days.”

Get moving

It’s absolutely the time for Leeds to get moving in the transfer window if they want to secure a new singing before the window slams shut on 1 February.

They are currently short on defensive options after Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham and Luke Ayling was allowed to join Middlesbrough on loan.

Godfrey has been seen as the ideal addition as he has plenty of experience playing in the Premier League and the centre-back can also fill in at right-back if necessary.

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The Whites are going to have be bold if they want to secure a deal for him, though, with the likes of AC Milan also showing some interest in him this month.

If that deal isn’t going to be possible, then the West Yorkshire club need to be proactive and move onto the next target as this is absolutely not the time to be messing around.

In other Leeds United news, a development has emerged in the Whites’ pursuit of a new defender.

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