Sheffield United make ambitious move for £77.5k-a-week top-flight star | OneFootball

The Blades are hoping to strike a deal for the Serie A defender.

Sheffield United have reportedly made an approach to sign Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey on loan.

The Blades are putting a real emphasis on doing shrewd business in the transfer market this summer, as they grapple with the need to be financially careful with how and where they spend their money.

Despite that, Ruben Selles has still been able to add to his new squad, with the likes of Djibril Soumare, Mihail Polendakov and Louie Barry all arriving at Bramall Lane this summer.

The remit remains clear for United in 25/26: win promotion to the Premier League, and they may be about to bolster their chances of doing exactly that with their latest transfer target.

Sheffield United make move for Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey

Football Insider have revealed on Wednesday evening that Sheffield United have made a loan move for Atalanta defender, Ben Godfrey.

The report states that the Blades are now waiting to hear what the response is from the Serie A outfit regarding their offer.

Godfrey only signed for Atalanta last summer, having left Everton in a deal worth a reported £10m. However, things haven't gone to plan for the Englishman in Italy.

After making just five total appearances for the Bergamo-based side during the first half of the 24/25 season - with two of those coming in the Champions League - he was loaned out to then-Premier League Ipswich Town for the second half of the campaign.

However, things wouldn't improve for the former Everton and Norwich City centre-back, as he would once again make just five appearances for the Tractor Boys, with three of those coming in the top-flight.

As such, he appears to be firmly on the fringes of the Serie A side's squad heading into the 25/26 season, but having penned a deal with the club until the summer of 2028, Atalanta may not wish to totally give up on him just yet.

Godfrey, as per figures from Capology, is reportedly earning £77.5k-a-week at the Gewiss Stadium.

Godfrey could act as solid Anel Ahmedhodzic stopgap

So - if those numbers are correct - should Sheffield United sign Godfrey this summer, they surely won't be contributing to all of his wage packet at Atalanta.

If the club can negotiate a deal that sees them contribute around half of his reported £77.5k-a-week (£38.75k) or perhaps even slightly less than that, then this could have the makings of being a shrewd gamble to take by the Blades.

It's no secret that Selles needs to bolster his options in the heart of his defence before the 1 September deadline, especially after this week's sale of star centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic to Feyenoord.

Therefore, adding a player in Godfrey who boasts Champions League, Serie A, Premier League and Championship football on his CV - from his time with Norwich - could be a wise move indeed.

Naturally, there will be reservations from Blades fans over his lack of game-time recently, and how his last two moves with Atalanta and Ipswich have fared, but it was only a few seasons ago that he was a regular feature in Everton's starting lineup in the Premier League.

As such, he could be a smart player to bring in as a stopgap for Ahmedhodzic, thus enabling Sheffield United to take their time in order to find a proper long-term replacement for their former star.