Liverpool Opinion: Reds should sign Ben Godfrey to bolster their backline
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing English youth international Ben Godfrey from Norwich City this summer.
The Reds are weighing up a £10million offer for the 21-year-old, who has also been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Man United in recent weeks. (h/t TEAMtalk)
Godfrey has been one of the breakout stars in the Championship alongside Max Aarons and has played a key role in the Canaries’ surge to the top of the table.
The 21-year-old centre-back has contributed with 3 goals and 2 assists from 23 appearances for Daniel Farke’s side in the league this season, earning his first England U20 cap as a result of his consistently impressive performances.
A youth product of York City, Godfrey was signed up by Norwich in 2016 and made his Championship bow in the 2016-17 season.
The Englishman was shipped out to League One outfit Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan deal to further his development with more regular minutes and has cemented his place at the heart of the defence at Carrow Road this term.
Standing at 6ft with a well-built frame, Godfrey is a versatile player who is capable of playing in central midfield, central defence and also at left-back.
Quick across the ground and good in the air, Godfrey is known for his concentration, composure and ball-playing abilities as a defender.
Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Godfrey likes to get involved in the build-up play and often makes runs forward to support the attack when given the licence.
The 21-year-old boasts of a pass accuracy percentage of 88.5, including 2 accurate long passes per game, figures which are really impressive for a defender.
Godfrey mostly relies on his positioning to keep the attackers at bay and often stays on his feet to intercept and clear the ball out from the danger area.
However, he is equally good on the tackle, having successfully completed 25 of his attempted 32 tackles this season. The youngster has averaged 2.1 aerial duels and 3.7 clearances per game. He also boasts of a good disciplinary record, having picked up only 3 yellow cards in the Championship so far.
To put things into perspective, Godfrey looks like a real talent and very much a player who can make the step up to the Premier League next season.
It is quite unsurprising to see some of the big clubs linked with him after his consistent performances this season but Liverpool should look to beat off competition from their Premier League rivals and aim to have the final say in pursuit of Godfrey.
The Reds have enjoyed a fantastic season under Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, as they look to hold off Man City to claim their first league title in 28 years.
Liverpool boast of the best defensive record in the top flight this season, having conceded only 18 goals so far. With the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip all in the ranks, the Reds have enough cover at centre-back but they should not hesitate to invest in young talents to build a strong platform for the future.
Given that the likes of Matip and Lovren haven’t looked very solid when called into action, a promising youngster like Ben Godfrey can certainly add to squad depth and increase competition for places in the first-team.
Liverpool are set to lose Alberto Moreno at the end of the season and Godfrey, with his versatility to play on the left, could be used as a back-up for first-choice Andrew Robertson.
Moreover, both Lovren and Gomez have struggled with injuries this term, which might give Godfrey a better chance of making it to the first-team should a move materialize in the summer.
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That £10 million offer might not be enough to bring Godfrey to Anfield as Norwich are likely to increase their asking price if they make it to the Premier League. However, striking a deal should not be a big problem for a club of Liverpool’s stature.
