Godfrey turns down contract extension

A challenge for Dyche is to get Mason Holgate's head straight and then we can let Godfrey go.

Can't blame him one bit. Good player but no playing time to build confidence and improve. Fortunately we have time to get something for him rather than him leaving on a free.

Works very hard and has the right attitude and as a result wants regular starting 11 football.

Part of the calamity back four for a long period and not at the level of Branthwaite and Tarkowski. Shame but now for the club to do the best it can and get a few now.

Agreed, Bill (2), the question is how much anyone would pay for him. If I had watched him play and I was a fan of a buying team, I'd be annoyed to pay anything over £5 million for him. But who knows these days, such a strange market.

Ed (1), that's not a bad shout, but if Mason were to come good, that would be up there with Dyche's top accomplishments, given how far he's fallen. The real kick in the nuts would be if we had to sell Branthwaite too, to be left with Tarkowski, Keane, and Holgate in the central defense. That's a disaster waiting to happen at every turn.

We paid too much for Godfrey and expected too much of him to begin with, then long Covid kicked his ass, then the broken leg. But he's been a loyal, hard-working member of the team, and in a terrible situation with the club like everyone else of the past 5 years.

I can understand him wanting to leave; he hasn't had a settled position with us. Probably has another club in mind where he would get more games.

It can't have been much fun fighting off relegation each season.

The bloke's delusional!

Ben Godfrey has tuned down a new contract with Everton Football Club? One of the most limited and least skilful players to ever grace the royal blue.

Yes, a decent, strong athlete when not injured or suffering from long Covid. But does he seriously think he can do better elsewhere in terms of game time, club status, wages?

Don't let the changing room door hit you on the way out!

What Johnathan #4 said plus he has lost half a yard of pace due to the covid and injuries so for me is not quick enough for a regular Premier League place.

We need to be shifting Keane, Holgate and Maupay as a priority.

I barely bother putting Football Insider reports up as Rumour Mill items, let alone flag them as headline news, FFS!

Like a stopped clock, Pete O, the "journalist" in question here, is occasionally right but I strongly urge folk to wait until anyone else (well, maybe not The S*n or the Express!) reports on this before lending it any credence.

Over rated player indeed. Headless chicken. No real talent, speed being his only attribute but a championship player at the very best.

As for Holgate, book him a taxi and I'll drive him to his next club.

We need to get rid of this bang average players.

Not for me - decent sum circa £10 mil?

Ed #1, the only way to get Holgate's head straight is with a guillotine.

It's a pity because he'd be right in the mix to partner Tarky if we were to sell Branthwaite.

Keane and Holgate are no loss, but Godfrey is a useful squad player IMO.

He's always been a hard worker, but I've never been sure of of his best position.

He's a hard worker and ours for another season unless we sell him in the summer.

Shame, I had high hopes for him and thought there was a decent player in there.

His shithousery against Haaland was brilliant and he was a hero in the recent derby victory when we stopped them cunts winning the league, at Goodison Park!

But he's not fulfilled the promise consistently enough. On saying that, I'd have him 100% before Holgate.

If true, move him on and the money should help a bit.

I like Godfrey and his versatility is useful but he didn't really play much so it's not a huge loss.

I thought he did okay as a fill-in at right-back. But he offers nothing going forward and looks extremely uncomfortable on the ball.

Depending on wage demands, I'd keep him as a squad player. But if we got a reasonable offer, I'd sell.

I'd keep hold of him, seeing as Mykolenko has an injury and if (sadly) Branthwaite is sold.

He can be played across the back line, as Holgate looks shot and Keane isn't liked or trusted by the coaching staff and fans either.

If he's turned it down, he's got to be sold. Hope to get £10M to £15M, and that clear £6-11M of PSR gain.

Issue is Branthwaite will be sold, whilst Keane and Holgate need to go. 4 centre backs moving on is a real worry with Mykolenko and Patterson injured.

A big worry with Dom unsigned too.

It seems logical to sell given reported interest. With just a year left on his contract, probably a fee of about £8M to £10M (possibly a touch less to offset the wage demands).

He isn't a first-teamer for us, he's a utility defender. No point shelling out a big wage for a player who will only play about 10-odd games next season barring an injury crisis – and then have him leave for nothing.

There are lots of sub-£10M versatile centre-backs around, many of whom would be first-team ready now (at least to the extent Godfrey is) and many who could really develop into quality first-teamers (which Godfrey sadly isn't going to, despite initial promise).

We could, for example, get Taylor of Burnley for free to cover the left-back spot and a lower cost player from a cheap market (eg, France or Portugal) to cover the centre-back spot. It's hard to see that leaving us weaker – and it could even leave us stronger (potentially much stronger over time).

I think both parties need a fresh start.

I can see Ben doing well in Europe, like Dier and Smalling, who seem to be enjoying themselves.

Godfrey may be stalling to see what happens with the Branthwaite situation.

If Jarrad is sold, then Godfrey might fancy his chances of getting more playing time and sign the contract. But if Jarrad stays, then Dyche may be tempted to gamble by keeping Keane and Holgate as backups (remember they were the centre-back pairing in that game against Crystal Palace) and getting some funds in by selling Godfrey.

I would not have offered him a new contract but we had no choice, probably. He, Keane and Holgate need to be moved on asap.

Branthwaite and Tarkowski have shown us the standard required to compete in the Premier League as a centre-half.

I personally rated Godfrey until that horrible injury vs Chelsea. I thought he was good and his versatility is a positive for the team.

I know this is not in this conversation but I hope Dyche gives Patterson a chance once his injury issues are resolved as you have Coleman there who can advise the youngster as again he has played well in a blue shirt.

I keep reading that right-back is a serious issue when you have Patterson who is a natural right-back and will improve (Coleman would support him and help his progression). Also, Godfrey can play right-back in emergencies.

A pity about Godfrey and Patterson.

Both seemed good acquisitions but circumstances have gone against them which has affected their limited performances.

The reliance on the ''old brigade'' Seamus and Young has also been a factor but I think Dyche has to seriously think about limiting the game time of the old folks and that includes Gana.

With quite a few teams using the high press to good advantage you need players who can move the ball quickly out of the danger zone and Everton were far from that last season.