Everton have rejected an approach from AC Milan for defender Ben Godfrey with just over 24 hours left of the January window.
Having been Everton's fourth-choice central defender this season, Godfrey had only featured three times under Sean Dyche this season before this week.
Those appearances came in the EFL Cup versus League Two Doncaster Rovers, as an injury-time substitute at Sheffield United, and against Burnley at left-back during Everton's defensive selection crisis in December.
Falling behind the starting pair of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, Godfrey also seemingly was below the divisive figure of Michael Keane in the pecking order at Goodison Park.
With numbers dwindling week-by-week in the Everton squad though, Godfrey was drafted into the side for their clash with Fulham on Tuesday evening as a right-back.
Nathan Patterson's form has evidently not impressed Dyche as he dropped to the bench, and the returning Ashley Young was needed to fill in on the right-wing.
Like against Burnley, Godfrey helped Everton to a clean sheet at Craven Cottage, and once again saved a certain goal with a crucial last-ditch interception at the back post.
Godfrey was lauded by pundits, journalists and fans for his performance, and it has sparked a conversation that he is a player the club should be looking to keep during the January window.
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That is largely due to how threadbare the side is now that injuries continue to stack up, as Dyche only had one senior central midfielder available to him on Tuesday, with Amadou Onana joining Abdoulaye Doucoure, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli on the sidelines, while Idrissa Gueye is yet to return from the Africa Cup of Nations.
With both Young and Seamus Coleman entering the twilight of their careers and suffering from more than one injury already this season, Godfrey could well have a future at right-back, especially after Patterson's omission from the team.
Reports last week stated that Milan were showing interest in Godfrey due to his lack of game time at Everton, as they also have a defensive crisis of their own to solve.
However, Everton's reliable insider The Bobble claims on social media site X that the club have rejected an approach from the Serie A club to sign Godfrey before Thursday's deadline.
It is believed Godfrey's versatility is what alerted Milan to check his availability, as the Rossoneri are rather light right across the backline at present.
Milan are set to miss out on targets such as Lilian Brassier and Clement Lenglet, and Everton are now unlikely to agree to a deal so late in the window with their squad capacity very low.
Godfrey is likely to be in the Everton starting XI for their clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, should a move not transpire on deadline day.
Andrew Delaney
