Since Leeds United hasn’t completed a deal in January, Daniel Farke’s team will need to move quickly to fill their roster in order to maintain their lead in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.
Despite not adding any new players, the Whites have yet to lose in the league in 2024. Nevertheless, the German manager in the Elland Road dugout will be aware that in order to maintain this incredible success and return to the Premier League, they must bolster.
The West Yorkshire club will be crossing its fingers that this defensive target decides to sign a contract before the transfer window closes, as the recent explosive news that Daiki Hashioka would rather join Luton Town than Leeds United has slightly damaged the Whites’ trust in the transfer market.
If he succeeds, the contenders for the Championship promotion may find their next Luke Ayling in the process.
Leeds is considering a Premier League center defense
Football Insider initially revealed over the weekend that Leeds had formally approached Everton center-back Ben Godfrey. Now, another report from the website indicates that the Whites are considering a second loan offer following the rejection of their initial one.
The text states: “Leeds are “still pushing” to sign Godfrey and will come back with a stronger offer to try to work out a last-minute agreement.”
Therefore, despite substantial interest from Italian club Atalanta, the Elland Road team will not give up on trying to sign the departing Toffees defender.
However, the Sun claims that the Serie A team’s attempts to entice Godfrey to Italy have sadly resulted in a deal falling through.
Godfrey played for Farke at his former team, Norwich City, during the Leeds manager’s illustrious tenure. Given this, a pleasant transfer reunion may be in the works before the window closes.
Considering Godfrey’s style of play, the legendary Whites servant is now on loan at Middlesbrough, thus he might fit into the lineup as an Ayling-type player.
How Godfrey functions within the Leeds group
With 23 appearances in the top division during the 2021–2022 season, the 6-foot center-back Godfrey resembled Ayling at the height of his abilities when wearing an Everton shirt. In fact, the former Leeds hero was among the most comparable defenders to Godfrey during that season, according to FBref’s similar players model.
When comparing the two at that time, Ayling made 12 appearances at center-back. Godfrey scored 1.42 shots per 90 minutes when playing defense, while Ayling scored 1.31. Both players were very offensively inclined.
Both Godfrey and Ayling were not hesitant to initiate tackles when needed, with Godfrey recording 32 tackles during the season and Ayling surpassing his Toffees opponent with a higher 42.
Football writer Jonathan Norcroft described Godfrey, who was a standout player under Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park, as a “tremendous athlete.” Leeds, on the other hand, might use a boost in energy to counteract the Whites’ potential fatigue as the season progresses.
Leeds will want to go back in time and bring in someone who is comparable to Ayling, as the 32-year-old is getting older and moving out of West Yorkshire. In fact, the Whites might be able to advance more smoothly by adding a defensive warrior rather than tripping over the line.
Godfrey might be that player, and it makes sense for everyone involved for the 26-year-old to join the team at right-back (like Ayling) in what is still a problematic area at Elland Road if necessary.
The 26-year-old, who played for Farke and has had one promotion to the Premier League on his resume, will be eager to add another if Leeds are able to sign him.
