Newcastle: Big update emerges on £25m reported Magpies target

Journalist Dean Jones is ‘not convinced’ that Newcastle United have identified Everton defender Ben Godfrey as one of ‘their key targets’ for the summer transfer window.

The Magpies became the richest football club in the world following their Saudi-backed takeover last year and have been linked with several intriguing players ever since.

According to The Mirror, Newcastle are ‘stepping up their interest’ in Godfrey as manager Eddie Howe looks to add further reinforcements to his defensive options.

The England international joined the Toffees from Norwich City in October 2020 for £25 million and has gone on to establish himself as an accomplished Premier League player ever since, making 80 top-flight appearances throughout his short career.

Everton are currently hovering just one place above the relegation zone and keeping hold of Godfrey may be extremely difficult should they drop into the Championship next season.

However, the report also claims that the wages on offer at St. James’ Park will make any potential move from the north-west to the north-east ‘an attractive proposition’ either way.

It remains to be seen if Newcastle follow up their apparent interest in Godfrey with a formal offer, but it seems he is at least on Howe’s radar.

Newcastle were unsuccessful in their efforts to sign Lille centre-back Sven Botman and Diego Carlos of Sevilla in January, before eventually securing the services of Dan Burn.

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And Jones is sceptical over whether the club’s hierarchy have outlined the 24-year-old as one of the players at the top of their wish list for when the market reopens.

In an exclusive interview, he told GiveMeSport: