Ben Godfrey set for Premier League return with eight clubs interested

The Englishman joined Serie A side Atalanta from Everton in June in a £10million deal, but is now set for a return to English football after just over six months away.

Godfrey has been told he can leave the Italian side and that he is no longer part of the club's plans.

As many as eight clubs have registered an interest in the centre-back, with Leeds and Tottenham among the rumoured potential suitors.

However, Godfrey is believed to favour a move to Portman Road after being impressed by manager Kieran McKenna.

And the 26-year-old will surely be keen on a fresh start after his move to Italy failed to live up to expectations.

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With Atalanta qualifying for this season's Champions League following their Europa League victory in May, this appeared to be the next progression in Godfrey's career.

But since joining the Lombardi outfit, he has made just one league appearance, and five in all competitions, all of which have come from the bench.

Most recently, he was left out of Atalanta's squad list for their 2-0 Super Cup defeat to Inter Milan on Thursday.

And with Ipswich having shipped the fourth-most goals of any Premier League side this season, Godfrey would certainly bring some much-needed experience to their backline.

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After starting his career with hometown club York City, he was snapped up by the Tractor Boys' bitter rivals Norwich in 2016 aged 18.

Godfrey's breakthrough season with the Canaries came in the 2018/19 campaign, where he featured in 31 league games as his side won the Championship title.

Though Norwich were relegated from the Premier League the following season, the young defender impressed, and signed for Everton in a deal rising to £25m in 2020.

Godfrey went on to spend four years at Goodison Park, making 93 appearances in all competitions.

He also made his senior England debut during this time, having previously been capped at Under-20 and Under-21 level.

The York native was named in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 33-man provisional squad, and made his senior debut in a pre-tournament friendly win over Austria, despite ultimately not making the final 25-man cut.

Godfrey will certainly be facing a totally different challenge should he swap Serie A leaders Atalanta for Ipswich.

Kieran McKenna's side find themselves locked into a relegation battle, sitting 18th in the Premier League table, after gaining promotion from the Championship at the end of last season.