Everton poised to take £15m hit on defender Ben Godfrey with European giants lining up shock transfer

AC MILAN are set to revive their interest in Everton’s Ben Godfrey.

The Serie A giants enquired about the versatile defender in the final days of the January window.

But the Toffees were reluctant to do business as they fought relegation.

Now AC Milan are ready to test the resolve of Everton’s financial plight.

The Italian giants have stepped up their interest in £10million-rated Godfrey.

The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Goodison Park.

His expiring deal has also alerted long-term admirers Borussia Dortmund.

Godfrey, twice capped by England, signed for Everton from Norwich in a £25million deal back in 2020 when Dortmund first registered their interest.

Euro clubs know Godfrey could sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club as soon as January which will increase the pressure on Everton.

Should Godfrey make the switch to the San Siro, he would team up with fellow Englishmen and ex-Chelsea pair Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

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He impressed for Sean Dyche’s men in the second half of the season and became a regular starter, making 13 of his 16 appearances last season from January onwards.

Everton eventually finished 15th in the table despite being docked eight points.

However, the Toffees face a firesale of players as they battle financial peril following 777 Partners’ takeover collapse on Saturday.

As revealed by SunSport, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jordan Pickford and Amadou Onana are ALL up for sale – along with the rest of the squad.

Manchester United are keen on Branthwaite while England No1 Pickford is expected to attract interest.

Elsewhere, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be targetted by Newcastle as he enters the final year of his Goodison deal – especially if the Magpies let Callum Wilson leave.