Everton defender Ben Godfrey has emerged as a January target for La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, according to TMW.
The Colchoneros are on the market for defensive reinforcements this month, and the Toffees castaway is one of several options under consideration.
TMW claims Atletico have already initiated contacts to lure Godfrey away from Goodison Park, although they are yet to reach out to the club to kick off negotiations.
The La Liga side are prioritising options from the Spanish top flight, but Godfrey is firmly on their radar, and they’re considering launching a loan move for the Englishman.
The move would appeal to Godfrey, and Everton wouldn’t stand in the way of a potential exit, given their need to raise funds amid issues with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
The 26-year-old has barely kicked a ball for Sean Dyche’s side this season, racking up a meagre 181 minutes of first-team football across all competitions.
Serie A side Genoa and Championship outfit Leeds United have also expressed an interest in Godfrey, but Everton are hoping to sell to the highest bidder.
It remains to be seen if the Toffees would accept a loan proposal, but an outright sale would appeal to the cash-strapped Merseyside outfit this month.
Everton are gearing up for a potential raid with midfield duo Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League and abroad.
There’s a chance the Toffees may end up keeping both players who are paramount to Dyche’s set-up and play a key role in the club’s battle against relegation.
However, Everton may be forced to cash in on at least one of them in the long run, considering the club has been charged with a second breach of the Premier League’s PSR rules.
They’ve already been docked ten points for an initial breach and have appealed the decision but are waiting to learn the punishment for their latest infringement.