Romano update on Ibrox-linked £10m Serie A defender as Rangers target new centre-back
01/02/2025 06:35 AM
There was always something ambitious about those Rangers links to Ben Godfrey as the centre-back struggled for minutes at Everton last season.
Rangers were linked to Godfrey alongside several Premier League clubs as the defender slipped down the pecking order at Goodison Park.
Everton had paid Norwich City around £20m to sign Ben Godfrey in 2020 after the defender had made his debut with the England national team.
Eventually staying put with Everton last season, Godfrey did move to Serie A side Atalanta in the summer but only six months into his switch to Italy the 26-year-old could be on the move again.
It's news that may well prick the ears of Rangers, who're going through something of a defensive injury crisis at Ibrox.
Ben Godfrey to leave Atalanta
Ben Godfrey moved to Atalanta in the summer in a deal reportedly worth £10m but things have not gone to plan for the centre-back in Italy.
Making just one Serie A appearance for the club this season, Godfrey hasn't played in the Italian top flight since the opening game of the season.
Limited to just five appearances – all of which have come from the bench – Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Atalanta hope to move Ben Godfrey on this January.
The Italian transfer guru claims that Godfrey is 'no longer key' to the Serie A side's project in a sizeable blow for the defender just a few months on from moving to Italy.
Rangers target new centre-back transfer
Rangers are prioritising a new centre-back this January as an injury crisis strips Philippe Clement's defence down to its bare bones.
The Ibrox side lost John Souttar to injury in December and have won only one match in four since, conceding a string of poor goals.
This is after Rangers lost versatile defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo to injury, the Dutch U21s star returning to Feyenoord after undergoing surgery.
Veteran Rangers defender Leon Balogun is also struggling with an Achilles problem whilst an injury to James Tavernier will force Dujon Sterling to deputise at right-back.
It means under-fire Dutch defender Robin Propper is the only natural senior centre-back in the squad and it's a situation which has plenty nervous at Ibrox.
Whilst we don't know the details of Ben Godfrey's situation at Atalanta, given the defender is now available perhaps Rangers could reignite interest from last season.
