AC Milan step up £10m move for player Leeds United were desperate to sign in January

In hindsight, it was a move that worked because it saw Ilia Gruev come into midfield and the Bulgarian star shined. So much so that Borussia Dortmund are interested in a move to land former Bremen player Gruev.

But Leeds could do with a centre-back and certainly Everton’s Ben Godfrey would have been a fantastic addition. The 26-year-old has really struggled for game time in the first half of the season.

Daniel Farke’s side were keen on a move for the England star, which would have seen the old Norwich boss reunite with his old Carrow Road defender, but Godfrey stayed and won his Everton place back.

Milan are eyeing Ben Godfrey after Leeds tried to sign him in January

Indeed, Godfrey finally started his first Premier League game of the season on 16 December, but following interest in January, the £25m addition has started 12 of Everton’s 18 league games since the turn of the year .

Leeds opened talks to sign Godfrey on loan, but David Ornstein reported that a move was not particularly close at any point. Godfrey’s long-term future at Goodison Park remains largely in doubt, however.

The Sun claim that Milan are trying to sign Godfrey this summer, with his contract at Everton due to expire in the summer of 2025. A £10m deal could be done, with £15m sterling less than his fee.

Any chance of Leeds pulling together a move for Godfrey?

If Leeds had made it to the Premier League then maybe. Everton need to sell players and cannot afford to lose Godfrey for nothing next summer, even if selling him for £10m is a £15m loss.

But Godfrey has shown in recent months that he is easily up to Premier League standard, whether at right-back or centre-back. Enough for Milan to get their hands on him in Serie A and Europe.

Leeds have no chance of agreeing a deal for Godfrey unless he stays at Everton until the final days of the window and the Toffees are willing to let him go on loan, which is incredibly unlikely.

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