Fabrizio Romano drops Ben Godfrey claim amid Leeds United links | OneFootball

Godfrey has been on Leeds' radar for a long time.

Ben Godfrey will be allowed to leave Atalanta in the January transfer window amid interest from Leeds United, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer expert has reported that the Serie A leaders no longer see the ex-Everton and Norwich City defender as a key part of their plans, with Godfrey not included in their squad list for the upcoming Super Cup, and he will be allowed to leave the club.

Leeds have had a long-standing interest in the 26-year-old. He was a target for them last winter but the deal fell through late on in the window. The United manager, Daniel Farke, has previously expressed that he's not expecting a hugely active window at Elland Road this time around, but Godfrey is a player that they are reported to like.

Of all the defensive positions, the middle of the backline is where Leeds are the most stocked, but Godfrey has also shown a good level of versatility in the past when operating at full-back, which could come in handy for Farke who has been short in these positions all season long.

Godfrey is said to be a more realistic option for Leeds to explore in the summer, though, according to Graeme Bailey, with a promotion being key to any potential deal.

Romano's update won't only be of interest to the Championship leaders, but also to a number of Premier League clubs. Tottenham Hotspur were reported to have made an enquiry about Godfrey, with a loan move supposedly being discussed.

Other top-flight sides who have been linked with the defender include Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Wolves, as per TBR Football.

Any move for Godfrey by Leeds, or the other interested parties, may not be as easy as Romano's report would suggest. Atalanta may be keen to move on from him, but Bailey has stated that he is not particularly keen to move on from them.

Leeds should be hesitant about Ben Godfrey move

There's little doubt about whether Godfrey would be able to have a positive impact on a Championship club like Leeds. The 26-year-old now has a couple of Champions League appearances under his belt, following a six-season-long stint in the Premier League.

A deal for the defender is not likely to be cheap and he may well be cautious to drop to Championship level. If his heart is not in it, then the Whites should be hesitant of dropping a lot of cash on the player even given his past with Farke.