---
title: "Newcastle: Ben Godfrey emerges as summer target"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-transfer-news-ben-godfrey-emerges-as-summer-target-eddie-howe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-03-21T16:16:00Z"
modified: "2022-03-21T16:16:00Z"
---

# Newcastle: Ben Godfrey emerges as summer target

**Ben Godfrey is one of Eddie Howe’s primary Newcastle United targets ahead of the summer transfer window, according to [The Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-howe-transfer-everton-defender-26508080)‘s [chief sports reporter](https://twitter.com/TomHopkinson) Tom Hopkinson.**

### The lowdown

It was only in October 2020 that Everton shelled out [£20m](https://theathletic.com/news/everton-transfer-ben-godfrey-norwich/LrCUwMx9YzXI/) to sign Godfrey from Norwich City. He is now nearly 18 months into a [five-year](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-godfrey/profil/spieler/343475), [£77k-per-week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/everton-fc/payroll/) contract at Goodison Park.

The 24-year-old has made 59 appearances for the Toffees, operating in [both full-back positions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-godfrey/leistungsdaten/spieler/343475) in addition to his [preferred role in the heart of defence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-godfrey/leistungsdaten/spieler/343475).

Gareth Southgate has also handed him [two caps for England at senior level](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-godfrey/nationalmannschaft/spieler/343475), in addition to playing nine times for the country’s under-21s.

### The latest

Hopkinson wrote in [The Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-howe-transfer-everton-defender-26508080) that Howe is looking to strengthen his defensive options this summer, with Newcastle now ‘stepping up their interest’ in Godfrey.

The Magpies manager is a ‘big fan’ of the centre-back and had hoped to sign him in January. Howe has refused to give up on the pursuit, with the player near the top of the 44-year-old’s ‘wanted list’ ahead of 2022/23.

If Everton are relegated – they currently sit just three points above the drop zone in 17th – it could then prove very difficult for them to keep hold of the 24-year-old. Even if they stay up, Godfrey would have the incentive of a salary boost at St James’ Park.

### The verdict

Godfrey possesses a strikingly similar profile to [another reported Newcastle target in Lloyd Kelly](https://www.givemesport.com/87984185-newcastle-9m-eddie-howe-favourite-tipped-for-st-james-park-transfer) – both are young English defenders who are [comfortable at both centre-back and full-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lloyd-kelly/leistungsdaten/spieler/480116).

The 24-year-old is a warrior of a defender, ranking in the 99th percentile among positional peers in the top five leagues for blocks per 90 minutes with [2.49](https://fbref.com/en/players/9f7c837d/Ben-Godfrey). Data from [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/9f7c837d/Ben-Godfrey) suggests that there are shades of Diego Godin, the former Atletico Madrid defender who was once named in the [UEFA Team of the Year](https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/news/021d-0e8eedd79b33-cc7486c8ad97-1000--uefa-com-team-of-the-year-2014-announced/), in his game.

Jamie Carragher dubbed him a [‘brilliant signing’](https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1358911339780050950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1358911339780050950%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fjamie-carragher-raves-about-everton-defender-ben-godfrey%2F332431%2F) for Everton, while BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty said that he had been a [‘revelation’](https://www.givemesport.com/1652632-evertons-ben-godfrey-lauded-by-phil-mcnulty-after-20-liverpool-win) on Merseyside.

It has been a dismal season for the Toffees, and perhaps Godfrey will be plotting a way out, which would be music to Newcastle’s ears.

**In other news, [Newcastle are also in the race for this signing](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/west-ham-transfer-news-watford-blas-nantes/)**