Player move collapses after Goodison Park exit deal agreed in detail.

According to Calcio Mercato, Ben Godfrey came dangerously close to joining Atalanta in recent weeks, but the transaction was “ruined” by Italy’s “growth decree.”

A “in detail” agreement had been reached for the 26-year-old to move to Bergamo, according to the Italian publication (January 21), but this month’s transfer was derailed by “soaring costs.”

The so-called “growth decree” strategy, which gave clubs tax breaks on foreign recruits’ salaries to assist them compete in the transfer market, has been rejected by the Italian government.

That is said to have led to the collapse of a deal that was set to see the Toffees defender depart for the Serie A team, however competing interest has now surfaced from AC Milan, another Italian team, as well as Leeds United and Sheffield United in England.

Godfrey would have been quite disappointed if he had a move planned but it fell through at the last minute, given how little football he has seen at Everton this season.

Forbes reports that there was a possibility to prolong the tax benefits for an additional month to support Italian clubs during the January transfer window, but an agreement could not be reached.

From the player’s perspective, leaving Goodison Park now appears to be his only alternative, similar to Mason Holgate’s loan to Southampton this season.

However, Sean Dyche and the club believe that it may be dangerous to further cut the defensive numbers unless the money offered was sufficient to fund adding a player who might see greater playing time to the team.

The Toffees manager doesn’t seem to be all that impressed with Godfrey, a former Norwich City player, since he hasn’t often used him in his native center-back position and has given up on trying the Englishman out at left and right back late in the previous campaign.

It doesn’t appear probable that Godfrey will see a lot of action in the near future or that his 18-month contract will be extended, barring a big-money departure for Jarrad Branthwaite or a change in the dug-out.

A permanent transfer in the summer for a small price might be the best course of action to prevent being short-staffed for the remainder of the season, because it appears that a very likely departure has collapsed at the last minute.

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Damian Harrison

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