Ben Godfrey leaves Atalanta as clubs scramble for Premier League return

In Italy, Atalanta football club has decided to allow Ben Godfrey to leave the club as the January transfer window approaches. Godfrey, a 26-year-old center-back, joined Atalanta from Everton during the summer transfer period for approximately £11 million. Since his arrival in Italy, however, he has had limited opportunities to play, managing only four substitute appearances for the Serie A side. As a result, Atalanta is now open to loan offers for the defender as they look to manage their squad more efficiently. Four Premier League clubs have reportedly expressed interest in signing Godfrey on loan. Among those clubs are Nottingham Forest and Wolves, both of which see potential in Godfrey’s extensive experience in the English top flight from his previous stints at Everton and Norwich City. His English caps, which total two, further enhance his appeal as a solid option for teams looking to strengthen their defenses ahead of the busy spring schedule. Godfrey’s familiarity with the Premier League environment is considered a significant advantage for interested teams. Atalanta's current position in Serie A is reflective of their strong performance, leading the league by a two-point margin as of the date of this report. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini has successfully implemented a back-three defensive formation, helping to solidify their strong standing in the league. They are also in contention in the Champions League, sitting 13th in their group with two matches remaining in the league phase. This performance has contributed to Atalanta becoming increasingly tactical in their approach as they seek to capitalize on their league position. Godfrey’s potential exit from Atalanta highlights the complexities of player management in modern football, especially for clubs looking to balance competitiveness in multiple tournaments. As the January transfer window nears, both Godfrey and the interested Premier League clubs remain in a crucial period of negotiations that could result in a move back to England for the defender, which would be a significant development given his career trajectory in recent months.